Best ever year for IET media coverage

In total the number of articles and reports mentioning the IET hit 2,431, up from 1,588 in 2010, with journalists increasingly turning to the IET for expert, impartial, and evidence-based comment.

During 2011, IET spokespersons appeared on BBC national television and radio, ITV News, in a range of tabloid and broadsheet national newspapers, and trade and consumer magazines.

Dr Tony Whitehead, IET director of Governance and Policy, said: “Achieving our most successful year in communicating our key messages is particularly to be applauded.

“Whilst important, increasing the profile of the IET brand is by no means an end in itself – but it is creating an important platform from which we can project our ethos and deliver our key messages successfully.  

“None of this would have been possible without the support of our volunteers who spare their time freely to be the mouthpiece of the IET, commenting on a range of issues. Their independent, knowledge-based expertise makes the IET an impartial and respected thought leader.”

Media coverage highlights include the winner of the IET’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year (YWE) Award, Captain Charlotte Joyce, featuring in articles in The Sun and The Times.

The IET’s principal policy advisor for Education and Skills, Stephanie Fernandes was interviewed live on the BBC News Channel commenting on apprenticeship funding. The interview was also used on news bulletins on BBC One and similar comment was included in The Telegraph, The Independent on Sunday and The Huffington Post UK.

Dr Tony Whitehead was interviewed on ITV1’s London Tonight regional news programme commenting on exam results and the need for transferable personal skills. In addition, Tony and fellow IET director Michelle Richmond both featured in separate engineering apprenticeship articles in the Mirror.

Dr Martyn Thomas, from the IT Policy Panel, was interviewed on BBC Radio Five Live about an overhaul of the school ICT curriculum.

Former YWE, Arlene McConnell, and runner-up Sara Salim, appeared on BBC Radio Five Live and BBC Breakfast commenting on the launch of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering.

The UK Government’s Autumn Statement enabled the IET to comment on High Speed 2, with coverage published by The Guardian and The Engineer.  Comment from IET vice president Naomi Climer on funding for superfast broadband was included in coverage in The Guardian and The Telegraph.

Global media coverage continues to gain momentum. In China, coverage has focused on the IET’s Academic Affiliate Programme, the 3rd International Communication Conference on Wireless, Mobile & Computing, the Corporate Partner Programme and the IET President Dr Mike Short’s visit to China.

Meanwhile, in India, media coverage has been focused around prestige events, such as the Pinkerton Lecture, given by Dr Mike Short. The subject of the lecture, entitled ‘Internet for all – is the real barrier to reaching this vision: demand, awareness, usability or access technology?’, achieved coverage in a number of publications, including the Deccan Chronicle.

For further information about IET in the news, visit the Media Centre on the IET website.