<html><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><META name="Author" content="Novell GroupWise WebAccess"></head><body style='font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; '><div style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Countering violent extremism
through media and
communication strategies: A review of the evidence</div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">By Kate Ferguson</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">Partnership for Conflict, Crime & Security Research, 2016</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">Download<br><a href="http://www.paccsresearch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Countering-Violent-Extremism-Through-Media-and-Communication-Strategies-.pdf">http://www.paccsresearch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Countering-Violent-Extremism-Through-Media-and-Communication-Strategies-.pdf</a></font></div><div style=""><br></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">From the Executive Summary:</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">This report presents the analysis of a corpus of academic and grey literature relevant to a key
challenge facing our society. How can media and communications be used to counter identity-based
violence (IBV) or Violent Extremism (VE)?</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">Part I focuses on “Counter-Narratives”, looking at the evidence relating to strategic policy
communication strategies and counter-propaganda techniques. This reflects literature from
policymakers, think-tanks, and civil society initiatives rather than the academic literature base.</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">Key findings include the following:</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">• Current literature and policy concerned with countering propaganda is dominated by the language
of ‘counter-narratives’ but a common understanding of this relatively new lexicon has yet to emerge.</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">• There is little hard evidence that proves interaction with VE content leads to participation in VE
activities.</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">• The hypothesis that VE narratives or the real life threat of VE can be countered by an alternative set
of communications is an assumption that remains unproven.
These findings challenge claims that responding to propaganda strategies by firing back
with “counter-narratives” can be effective.</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">Part II looks at “Alternative Approaches” to the use of the media to counter violent extremism,
drawing on insights from the “media development” and “media assistance” sectors, and research
into whether mass media and new communication interventions can inhibit identity-based violence
in certain crisis situations.</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">Key findings include the following:</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">• The theoretical foundations for these alternative approaches are supported by a stronger and more
established research base, drawn from the multidisciplinary fields of development, peace building,
and social cohesion.</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">• Media projects have less impact if seen to be linked to a political agenda.</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">• A growing evidence base suggests that radio and television drama addressing issues of identity,
reconciliation and tolerance have a positive an impact on public attitudes and behaviour.</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">• Media assistance can ensure that local and domestic media can respond appropriately to VE
narratives.</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">• There is an emerging evidence base regarding the potential for rapid reaction media and
communication strategies in situations where there is a threat of IBV.
These findings suggest that alternative media strategies can help. But the trust and credibility of
information providers is crucial.</font></div><div style=""><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style=""><div style=""><font size="3">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>></font><br><font size="3"> </font><br><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="">Christoph Dietz<br>CAMECO<br>Postfach 10 21 04 <br>D-52021 Aachen, Germany<br>Tel.: 0049 - 241 - 70 13 12 14<br>Fax: 0049 - 241 - 70 13 12 33<br><a href="mailto:christoph.dietz@cameco.org">christoph.dietz@cameco.org</a></font></div><div><a href="http://www.cameco.org"><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif">http://www.cameco.org</font></a></div></body></html>