IET in the news

The IET enjoyed a highly successful 2011 in terms of its media engagement and public perception with record press cuttings and use of IET spokespersons in the media.

During 2011 the IET appeared in over 2,400 media reports worldwide commenting on important engineering issues and explaining the value of the IET’s wide range of products and services. These news reports were seen by hundreds of millions of people around the world helping to boost the IET’s brand awareness among target audiences in the UK and overseas.

Tony Whitehead, IET director of Policy said, “Achieving our most successful year in communicating IET key messages was particularly satisfactory in what was our institution’s 140th anniversary year. We are not complacent, though. One of the key issues that we will continue to address in 2012 is the widespread misconception about the role of engineers and technicians in industry and society. One of the most important messages is that engineering and technology offers a very wide range of interesting and rewarding careers, with something for everyone. Needless to say, we shall continue to work hard in conveying the IET’s work, policies, and key messages throughout 2012.”

Ben Rudd, head of Communications, added: “As the media footprint of the IET grows people are increasingly realising that the IET is a source of essential engineering intelligence and a thought leader on the impacts of technology on society. In 2011 the media quoted IET spokespersons on more than 1,100 occasions. In 2010 it was less than 100. This step change has been the result of members and staff across the IET stepping up to the plate and making their voice heard on issues like high speed rail, smart grids, mobile phones and numerous other areas where IET volunteers have real expertise.”

The first IET media coverage report has recently been published. This report lists where the IET has appeared in the media and highlights the increased media profile of the IET as a result of public relations activity throughout 2011.

Highlights of the past year include generating the highest advertising value equivalent coverage ever. There was also a marked increase of the IET in the popular mass media, including spokespeople commenting on BBC News, as well as in The Sun and The Daily Mirror, alongside the traditional broadsheets like The Telegraph, The Guardian, and The Times.

This increase in media profile has resulted in more of the public being aware of our organisation. In January 2011 the IET commissioned independent pollster Ipsos Mori to conduct a survey amongst a cross-section sample size that would determine to what extent the public knew about the IET and what we do. Twenty-seven per cent of those surveyed said they had heard of the IET. In January 2012, this rose to 39 per cent saying that they had heard of us, which is a significant increase of 12 per cent. Another interesting revelation is that 41 per cent of the sample group now view the IET “as an independent, authoritative voice on the impacts of technology on society”, which is an increase of more than 11 per cent from early 2011.