Islamic State’s Remediation Strategies: Creating Propaganda Through the Words of Others

• In Event: Organizational Communication Research Escalator - Extended Session (Part 1)

Abstract

After its emergence the so-called Islamic State became one of the most widely discussed actors in the vivid conflict’s media sphere. Their reliance on modern communication technology has attracted a great deal of attention. Many note, that IS’ propagandistic Hollywood-styled videos, excessive usage of social media and heavily altered images show how well the organization is embedded in the technological media terrain.
This paper seeks to analyze IS’ communicative strategies. Namely, it focuses on the fact that IS often mimics contemporary media formats using different remediation strategies for their propagandistic messages which can be characterized as the repositioning of existing content into a different contextual framework.
The research relies on qualitative content analysis examining IS’ remediation practices. The contribution, thereby, analyzes IS’ English-language monthly Dabiq magazine. It focuses on what sources are being used, what strategies are being applied and what role remediation plays in the wider communicative strategy.

Authors

• Ieva Zakareviciute

• Marc Christian Wilhelm Jungblut, Ludwig-Maximilians-U Munich