Media Relations

Five Tips for Publicizing Your IEEE Section

These quick tips for increasing the visibility of the IEEE in your community have been extracted from the IEEE Publicity Guide. Refer to the Guide for more in-depth “how to” Public Relations advice.



Tip #1:  Display the IEEE Master Brand (http://www.ieee.org/web/publications/rights/index.html#logo) to build visual recognition for your Section

  • on signs or banners at all IEEE meetings or sponsored events
  • on all printed materials and in the top third of your Web site

Tip #2:  Time for only one ongoing PR activity?  Get all your meetings listed in local newspaper calendars. Follow these steps:

  • Make a list of all the local newspapers in your section that announce meetings
  • Call to find out deadlines and the correct contact to receive the information
  • Ask if there is a format or word count restriction
  • Ask if they prefer mail, fax or email
  • Tailor the announcement to meet these specifications and deadlines

Tip # 3:  Does the local newspaper have a technology reporter? 

  • If so, invite that reporter to all local IEEE meetings that have a technology-based presentation.
  • Provide the reporter with a list of Section technical experts for potential topics in the news. Make sure your experts can explain their fields in general, non-technical terms.

Tip # 4:   Have a little more time?  Or some additional volunteers who like to write?  If so, establish a process to announce news about members.  Possibilities:

  • IEEE volunteers in the schools (career days, science/technology fairs, etc)
  • New IEEE Section officers
  • New IEEE Fellows
  • Award recipients (IEEE and non-IEEE Awards) in the Section
  • Individuals who are making local presentations on technical/consumer related topics on behalf of the IEEE.

Tip # 5:   Is the Section holding a special event that is open to the public?

  • Try to avoid a scheduling conflict with another major event in the area
  • Develop the key messages early in the planning
  • Contact the appropriate reporters early to “save the date”
  • Designate a spokesperson who knows the event and can deliver the messages effectively to the reporters
  • Send out a news release a couple of weeks in advance
  • Follow up with those who received the save the date message

 Want to know more?  Read the IEEE Publicity Guide online at  www.ieee.org/publicityguide  

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