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RCAST Security Seminar #18 on Media and Counter-Terrorism

August 16, 2019

Details

Type Lecture
Intended for General public / Enrolled students / University students
Date(s) September 20, 2019 15:00 — 16:30
Location Komaba Area Campus
Venue RCAST Building 3, M2F floor, Seminar room-1
Entrance Fee No charge
Registration Method Advance registration required
RSVP: Please drop a line to office@me.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Contact office@me.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp

RCAST Security Seminar #18 on Media and Counter-Terrorism

RCAST is pleased to invite you to a seminar on media and counter-terrorism by researchers with advanced experiences in counter-terrorism practices.

Abstract:
Misguided and sensational media reporting of terrorist events is not only impacting communities, but also front line practitioners working in the fields of prevention and countering violent extremism, and policy-making. Media reporting affects how communities as well as wider societies understand, interpret and react to particular terrorist events. It contributes to shaping minority communities’ perceptions of wider society and governments, but also their own communities as well as their place within that particular society. Media reporting of terrorist events can undermine social cohesion, cause irreparable damage to communities, polarize societies and give rise to and perpetuate discrimination, racism and violence. Moreover, it is not only feeding fear; it may also act as an unwitting facilitator to inspire those who identify with ISIS ideology and indirectly enhance ISIS credibility and agency. It is the responsibility of policy-makers to develop sound strategic communications around terrorist events and of media groups to develop policies in the field of responsible reporting of terrorist events.

RCAST Security Seminar #18
“Media and Counter-Terrorism: A Practitioner’s Perspective”

Date & Time: September 20, 2019, 15:00-16:30
Venue: RCAST Building 3, M2F floor, Seminar room-1
https://www.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/access.html

Speakers:
Virginie Andre, Senior Research Fellow, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
Onni Sarvela, Former Exit mentor, Finland

Moderator: Satoshi Ikeuchi, Professor of Religion and Global Security, RCAST, the University of Tokyo

Speakers' Bios:
Dr. Virginie Andre is a Victoria University Senior Research Fellow. Virginie has an expertise in terrorism and countering violent extremism, ethno-nationalism and conflict transformation, social media and youth radicalization, and diasporic cultures in transition. In the last twelve years, Dr. Andre has researched diverse communities in Southeast Asia, Europe and Australia. She delivers presentations at a range of international and domestic academic conferences, coordinated Monash University’s Counter Terrorism Master’s Program, and lectured in post-graduate university courses. She has also undertaken research for the European Union, the Department of Premier and Cabinet of Victoria, Victoria Police, the Australian Attorney-General's Department, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the World Bank and the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission of Thailand. She also conceptualized and delivered training in strategic communication to counter violent extremism for government officials and media practitioners. Her latest publications are: ‘Understanding the Impact of Terrorist Event Reporting on Countering Violent Extremism: From A Practitioner’s Perspective’ (2018), ‘Violent Jihad and Beheadings in the Land of Al
Fatoni Darussalam’ (2015), ‘A Fragmented Discourse of Religious Leadership in France: Muslim Youth between Citizenship and Radicalization’ (2015), ‘Religious Citizenship and Islamophobia’ (2015), ‘Merah and Breivik: A Reflection of the European Identity Crisis’ (2015). Virginie holds a PhD degree from Monash University and a master’s degree from the National University of Singapore.

Mr. Onni Sarvela is a training consultant in the field of CVE and PVE and an independent professional youth worker. Until December 2018, he was also a mentor for Finland’s Radinet Exit Program, which aims to assist radicalized individuals who want to withdraw from violence, extremist thinking and violent activities. From 2015 to 2018, Onni assisted the Finland Exit program in setting up their mentoring program, as well as providing expert advice in the development of tools and workshop designs of the Exit programs. From 2012 to 2014, Onni worked as a councilor with the Finnish Refugee Council, with young men and women aged 18 to 30 years old. Overall, he has over 10 years of working with at risk youth and juvenile delinquents. He also provides training to practitioners and social workers in youth related work. He specializes in non-formal education. Finally, Onni was also part of the UN Peacekeeping force in Kosovo and Lebanon. He is also a member of the EU Radicalization Awareness Network Exit Working Group, which brings together former extremists and EXIT practitioners.

This seminar is co-organized by the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) of the University of Tokyo (Komaba II) and the Institute for Advanced Global Studies (IAGS) of the University of Tokyo (Komaba I).

Categories: Open to RCAST and The University of Tokyo Staff, Faculty & Students and Invitees
 
RSVP: Please drop a line to office@me.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp
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