PAVE Training Module 2

Section outline

• Hear from Fabian Wichmann from Exit Germany and the Radicalization Awareness Network on what elements are needed to produce effective counter and alternative narratives. 
  

  
  

  Source: PAVE Project. ‘’Fabian Wichmann: Elements Needed to Produce Effective Counter and Alternative Narratives.’’ 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRD0RdkOR60.
  

  When thinking about the right approach for your campaign, ask yourself three questions:

  1. What is the intent and purpose of that strategy?
  2. How is that particular strategy being synchronized with other efforts?
  3. What is the strategic logic underpinning that approach and what are its implications for practitioner mentality and team culture?

  Also consider what your messaging goal intends to achieve. 

  Are you trying to:

  1. Deter individuals from exploiting digital platforms to inflict harm and committing acts of violent extremism.
  2. Intervene with individuals who may pose a risk of violent extremism and encourage them to disengage. 
  3. Prevent individuals from joining violent extremism groups and address the push and pull factors.
  4. Build primary resilience to violent extremism radicalization.
  5. Empower bystanders to prevent or counter violent extremism.

  Strong alternative or counter narrative campaigns are underscored by the development of key skills within vulnerable communities, which include:

  • Critical consumption skills, which help vulnerable communities to recognize and understand the use of propaganda techniques online; 
  • Digital literacy skills, which help vulnerable communities to understand how the Internet works, how search engine results are generated, and how to use various online tools to refine their searches; 
  • Media literacy skills, which allows vulnerable communities to question the intent of the media and protect themselves from any negative influence or response to media engagement; and
  • Interpretation of extremist narratives to help those most at risk to understand the narrative techniques used by extremists and how to see through them. 

  
  

  The PAVE project demonstrated an interconnected relationship between education and social media peer-group radicalization. Education and media literacy are seen as the overarching factor that hinders progress in addressing online peer-group radicalization.  Therefore, in understanding the nuances of vulnerability, PAVE researchers identified education, including media literacy, as a pillar for community resilience. This includes increasing programming to develop critical thinking skills among school students to decrease vulnerability. 

  Strong alternative or counter narrative campaigns must also recognize and address misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation is false information, but not created or shared with the intention of causing harm. Disinformation is information that is deliberately created to mislead, harm, or manipulate a person, social group, organization, or country. For example, a lot of misinformation takes place through rumors. Rumors can take the form of fake news that spreads quickly on social media. When you hear or read a rumor that sounds true enough, you might send it along without double-checking if it's real, but you were not trying to cause harm. While those who knowingly spread rumors are sharing misinformation, those who start the rumors (or spread them with malicious intent) are guilty of providing disinformation. Whether the rumor takes place in a school or on the internet - if you know it's not true and you say it anyway, it's disinformation.

  Misinformation and disinformation can spread fast, with adverse reactions that can impact communities. Here are seven items consider before sharing information: 

  1. Consider the Source: Is this a well-known or trusted news outlet, and are they reputable for the subject at hand? 
  2. Triple Check the Source: Check the name, logo, and “About” section to verify. 
  3. Identify the Author: Misleading and false articles often do not include authors. If authors are listed, do a quick search to see if they are trusted sources. 
  4. Inspect the URL: Web Pages that notoriously spread disinformation often have odd web domain names that try to imitate real sources (Example of an incorrect website address:  peacemakersnetwork.com.co) 
  5. Examine Spelling and Punctuation: Webpages with misspelled words, unnecessary ALL CAPS, poor grammar, and excessive punctuation are often unreliable. 
  6. Seek Alternative Viewpoints: Search for other articles and sources on the same topic. If there are limited or no results, or you find contradicting information, you may want to do further research and fact-checking. 
  7. Think Before You Share: Damaging disinformation spreads quickly via shared posts. Emotional and sensitive topics are often used to manipulate readers into sharing without thinking. Review the above steps.

  
  

  Test your observation and verification skills with this verification challenge: https://ftp.firstdraftnews.org/articulate/temp/ovcR/story_html5.html.  

  
  

  

  Source: First Draft. ‘’Verifying Content, Online Language.’’ https://ftp.firstdraftnews.org/articulate/temp/ovcR/story_html5.html.

  By empowering people to become proactive and critical consumers of information, communities are able to limit the impact that violent extremist narrative can have, thus limiting the capacity of violent extremists to recruit effectively from within the community.
  

What is Counter or Alternative Messaging and How Can it Be Used to Prevent Radicalization?

Jump to... Main learning site Session 1: Objectives and Expected Results How Does the Internet Support and Create Opportunities for Extremist Narratives and Radicalization? Digital Recruitment in Today's Society What Tactics Do Violent Extremists Use to Radicalize Individuals? Who Do Violent Extremists Target in Radicalization and Recruitment Online? How and Why Do Youth Become Key Targets for Radicalization and Recruitment? Gendered Lens: How and Why Do Women Become Key Targets for Radicalization and Recruitment? How Does Religion Influence Online Recruitment and Radicalization? What About Policymakers? How do They Support Radicalization and Resilience Factors? Additional Resources for Session 1 Session 2: Objectives and Expected Results What Could An Extremist Narrative Look Like? How Can We Address Online Radicalization and Recruitment? What is Counter or Alternative Messaging and How Can it Be Used to Prevent Radicalization? Guidelines for Creating an Effective Campaign Mapping Your Target Audience How is Our Target Audience Currently Interacting with Extremist Content? How to Craft Your Counter or Alternative Message Tactics to Disseminate Your Campaign Messages Your Counter or Alternative Narrative Campaign is Launched - Now What? Evaluating Your Counter or Alternative Narrative Campaign Now It’s Your Turn to Make a Counter Narrative Campaign! Additional Resources for Session 2 Session 3: Objectives and Expected Results Being Safe When Using Online Spaces Safety Through An Inclusive Lens What if Someone I know is Talking to an Unsafe Person? Key Considerations for Building Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration and Trust to Prevent Online Radicalization and Recruitment Additional Resources for Session 3 Print Your Course Certificate

Guidelines for Creating an Effective Campaign