Media and government should stop using terrorist ‘brand names’ like ISIS says CPA boss
A prominent commentator has said the media and government should stop using the “brand names” of terror groups like ISIS and think carefully about the way the debate is framed to avoid “giving them life”.
Panel (l-r): Yalda Hakim, BBC World News presenter and correspondent; Tim Costello, CEO World Vision Australia; Richard Goyder MD Wesfarmers; Alex Malley, CEO CPA; Robert Milliner, the B20 Sherpa.
Speaking at a BBC Worldwide CEO debate in Sydney last night called Australia: People, Place, Power, Alex Malley, the CEO of CPA Australia, called on government and the media to think carefully about the way they are talking about the groups.
Following remarks about the Islamic State terror group (ISIS) Malley said: “We all live in a brand society, all of us will know it, and we should not be talking about any terrorism activities under a brand name, it’s a mistake.
Absolutely spot-on about he branding issue. And while we’re on the terror subject, isn’t it time we stopped calling these people “Mr”. If they need a title then it shd be “Terrorist”; let them sue!
How does one define a terrorist word?
Do we need to preclude ‘Bush’ from our vocabulary also?
What would we do if we wanted to establish them and aid their recruitment? We’d develop them as a brand.
It would almost be worth hiring a branding consultant to develop an anti-strategy.
But if you don’t give the bogeyman a actual identity, how can you justify billions spent on fighting him?
If you name the concept not the bogeyman, you can go on wasting money fighting him for years.
How about “The war on evil”?
What have we weevils ever done to you that pose such a threat?