Lexipol, the leading provider of solutions that support total readiness in public safety, has earned four national awards and five regional honors in the 2026 American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) Azbee Awards, recognizing outstanding editorial work across Lexipol Media Group’s industry news sites.
The Azbee Awards honor excellence in business-to-business journalism, recognizing high-quality reporting, analysis and multimedia storytelling across digital and print platforms. Winners are selected through a competitive judging process that evaluates editorial impact, relevance to professional audiences, and the quality of reporting and production.
Lexipol Media Group’s 2026 National Azbee Award winners and finalists include:
- National Winner, Overall Excellence – Best Body of Work by a Freelance Journalist: Police1
“Best body of work: Freelancer – Katja Ridderbusch”
Police1 columnist Katja Ridderbusch was recognized for reporting that examines topics including real-time crime centers, drone response programs, community engagement, and officer wellness and nutrition, highlighting how technology, leadership and human connection influence public safety outcomes. Through comprehensively sourced reporting and accessible storytelling, Ridderbusch helps law enforcement leaders understand not only what is changing in policing, but why it matters.
- National Winner, Overall Excellence – Project of the Year: Police1
“What Cops Want (2025)”
Built from survey feedback gathered directly from law enforcement professionals, this multi-format initiative transforms frontline perspectives into in-depth reporting, data visualizations and expert commentary. The coverage translates officer feedback into practical guidance on staffing, leadership engagement, tactical decision-making and training reform, while also examining critical gaps identified in the survey to help agencies better support personnel at every rank.
- National Silver Award, Best Online – Breaking News Coverage: FireRescue1
“National Fire Academy Training Cancellations”
This news coverage documents FireRescue1’s rapid and in-depth reporting on FEMA’s sudden cancellation of all in-person National Fire Academy (NFA) training. As the situation unfolded, the editorial team quickly verified details and delivered timely updates to inform fire service leaders of the immediate impact on training, preparedness and operations. Follow-up coverage incorporated perspectives from national fire service leaders, subject matter experts and federal stakeholders, providing critical context and actionable guidance.
- National Bronze Award, Best Online – Single Topic Coverage (Industry): Police1
“Women in Law Enforcement”
This multi-format series explores the experiences, challenges, and leadership contributions of women across the policing profession. Through features, interviews, podcasts, and data-driven reporting, Police1 highlights career advancement, workplace culture and the evolving role of women in modern law enforcement.
In addition to the national recognition, Lexipol Media Group’s 2026 Central Regional Azbee Award winners and finalists include:
- Regional Gold Award, Best Online – Podcast (Industry): EMS1
“Rainn Wilson on ‘Code 3’ and the brutal beauty of EMS life”
Hosted by Rob Lawrence, this episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast explores the realities of emergency medical services through a conversation with actor Rainn Wilson about his role portraying a paramedic in the film Code 3. The discussion highlights the emotional demands of EMS work, from burnout and mental health to the deeply human moments responders encounter on every shift.
- Regional Bronze Award, Best All Content – Government Coverage: FireRescue1
“Government Decisions That Shape the Fire Service”
This series of reporting examines how federal policy and agency decisions affect firefighter safety, funding, and national preparedness. Through investigative reporting, expert interviews, and timeline reporting that tracks key federal decisions, FireRescue1 translates complex government developments into practical insights for fire service leaders. - Finalist, Best Online – Video Series: Police1
“The Brief: Wellness Edition”
This video series delivers timely, practical conversations about officer wellness in a format designed for busy law enforcement professionals. The series addresses sensitive topics such as trauma recovery, mental health treatment, resilience, and difficult conversations after critical incidents. By combining professional insight with an understanding of police culture, this series helps make wellness guidance clear and accessible for officers and supervisors.
- Regional Gold Award, Best Online – Single Topic Coverage (Industry): Police1
“Women in Law Enforcement”
- Finalist, Best Online – Breaking News Coverage: FireRescue1
“National Fire Academy Training Cancellations”
“We’re incredibly proud of the detailed research and dedication our editorial teams bring to every piece they produce,” said Rob Schneider, president of Lexipol Media Group. “Public safety leaders rely on our reporting to help them understand the issues shaping their profession and make informed decisions for their agencies. Recognition like this reflects the care our journalists take to ensure that readers can depend on our content as a trusted resource.”
Lexipol Media Group’s industry news sites, Police1, FireRescue1, EMS1, Corrections1 and Gov1, serve as leading information resources for public safety professionals and government leaders across the United States, reaching more than 700,000 subscribers and generating an average of 3 million page views each month.
To learn more and view the full list of regional winners and finalists, and national finalists, visit the ASBPE Azbee Awards website.
