ICE launches media engagement guidelines to support members

The ICE has published guidelines to clarify how members who act as spokespeople on behalf of the ICE should interact with media outlets.

These guidelines complement the social media guidelines published last year.

ICE members are invaluable spokespeople

The ICE’s spokespeople offer useful insight on behalf of the organisation and the wider engineering community.

They help the ICE fulfil its purpose by explaining civil and infrastructure engineering concepts to decision-makers and the wider public through media outlets.

However, any member working with or speaking to the media on behalf of the ICE should do so in collaboration with the ICE media team.

This is essential to ensure consistent messaging, the use of the most up-to-date ICE information, and to protect the ICE’s reputation.

The guidelines provide an overview of the ICE media team’s role and some best-practice advice for working with the media.

The most important things for members to know are:

1. Do not engage with media without support from the ICE media team.

If a journalist, podcast team, magazine, or another organisation asks for a comment, interview, or blog as a representative of the ICE, members must inform the ICE media team.

The easiest way to get in touch is by emailing [email protected].

The media team will then advise on how to proceed.

This includes calling, writing to, or engaging with media outlets in your ICE role. For example, writing a letter to your local paper as the chair of an ICE network or committee.

2. Treat opportunities sensitively

Due to the sensitivity of media queries, potential spokespeople are approached individually.

If opportunities aren’t suitable due to timing or other considerations, it’s extremely helpful to suggest alternative spokespeople to the media team.

However, the request should not be passed on to another member, for example, by copying them into the email (CC’ing) as they may have already been approached or there may be a conflict of interest.

Member spokespeople should check with their employer’s media teams or press offices before accepting opportunities. The ICE media team is on hand to speak to other media teams and answer any questions that may come up.

3. The ICE media team is here to help

Not all media opportunities are created equally.

The ICE media team will assess opportunities, help prepare spokespeople by providing media briefs, and organise media training if appropriate.

The media team will also advise spokespeople on maintaining impartiality.

Read the media engagement guidelines for ICE members.