Editorial calendars, also often called content calendars, are instrumental tools for any internal communication professional. Content calendars allow you to schedule, plan, and track all the content you need to create. Using one will help you get ahead and be more strategic with your internal comms. Use our editorial calendar template to get started. This tool will save you time and set you up for success. Our template also provides the flexibility to adjust and edit the template to fit your needs.

Internal Communications Editorial Calendar Template & Planning Guide

In 2025, internal communications teams can no longer afford to work reactively. Messages sent in a rush often feel inconsistent, get lost in the noise, or fail to engage employees. That’s where an internal communications editorial calendar comes in.

With a structured calendar, your team can move from reactive to proactive—building a predictable cadence of updates, aligning with company goals, and reducing stress. This guide will show you why you need an internal communications editorial calendar, what to include, and how to implement it effectively in 2025.

Why You Need an Internal Communications Editorial Calendar

Promotes Strategic Planning

An editorial calendar ensures that every message ties back to business priorities. Instead of scrambling last minute, your team can plan ahead and align communications with key initiatives and milestones.

Boosts Consistency & Reduces Overload

Overcommunication and message fatigue are common challenges. A calendar balances timing and frequency so employees receive information at the right pace—no more overload.

Increases Team Collaboration

When multiple departments contribute to employee messaging, silos can form. A shared calendar builds transparency and accountability by letting everyone see who is responsible for what, and when.

Fosters Content Diversity & Engagement

By planning ahead, you can schedule different content formats—like newsletters, CEO messages, video updates, or campaigns—keeping communications fresh and engaging.

Enables Performance Tracking

A calendar isn’t just about scheduling. It becomes a measurement tool when linked to KPIs, allowing you to track performance, optimize future content, and prove impact.

What Should Be Included in an Editorial Calendar?

At minimum, an editorial calendar includes all of the content you intend to publish over a period of time. It includes a breakdown of the channels you will share each message on as well as the medium of the content (e.g. video vs. written).

Editorial calendars also include all the steps of the content production process, including planning, producing, approvals, distribution, and content redistribution (or repurposing).

Many editorial calendar templates also have room to write down each message and each campaign’s goals, so you can track your progress and results.

What is the Difference Between an Editorial Calendar and a Content Calendar?

The terms editorial calendar and content calendar are often used interchangeably even though they are slightly different. An editorial calendar is a high-level calendar that encompasses all stages of planning and executing a content strategy. A content calendar is often a tracking tool that focuses more specifically on the content itself you need to create and distribute.

For example, we provide a content calendar as part of our Microlearning solution. This helps you:

• Keep up with your communication cadence
• Share video content more frequently, increasing employee engagement
• Invest in your employees and prove to them that you value them
• Share internal communications campaigns all year long
  

  Best Practices for 2025 Implementation

  1. Start with Strategy
     Define your communication pillars (e.g., employee engagement, HR initiatives, leadership transparency) and align content accordingly.

  2. Collaborate Cross-Functionally
     Involve HR, operations, and leadership in calendar planning to capture every angle of messaging.

  3. Use the Right Tools
     A shared Google Sheet works well for small teams. Larger organizations may benefit from platforms like Trello, Asana, or Airtable for task tracking.

  4. Keep It Flexible
     Plan at least one quarter ahead but leave space for reactive, time-sensitive updates. The best editorial calendars balance structure with adaptability.

Download Our Free Editorial Calendar Template:

• An in-depth definition of what editorial calendar is and how to use one for internal communication planning.
• Why you should use a content calendar for internal comms.
• A robust editorial calendar template that you can adapt for your needs.