Read on Twitter
A lot to think about - as usual - in this great piece by @anneapplebaum which delves into one of the questions that occupies me a lot these days and that every journalist needs to grapple with: "how is it possible to reach people who can’t hear you?" https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/08/how-beat-populists-when-facts-dont-matter/615082/
I think the piece lays out the problem very clearly.
It’s not just about “access”:
"People who live in this “alternative” news bubble also see or hear “mainstream,” fact-based media. But they reject them. They identify them as the enemy, and they learn to ignore them"
It’s not just about “access”:
"People who live in this “alternative” news bubble also see or hear “mainstream,” fact-based media. But they reject them. They identify them as the enemy, and they learn to ignore them"
It’s not just about facts:
"first, Longwell also thought that an appeal to facts could move reluctant Trump voters to change their mind. But when she played them videos that clearly showed Trump lying, they shrugged it off."
"first, Longwell also thought that an appeal to facts could move reluctant Trump voters to change their mind. But when she played them videos that clearly showed Trump lying, they shrugged it off."
It’s about tribe:
"'I’m a Republican, my parents are Republicans, all of my friends are Republicans,' Longwell’s focus-group members told her. To vote differently wouldn’t just be an intellectual decision for these voters. It would tear them away from their tribe."
"'I’m a Republican, my parents are Republicans, all of my friends are Republicans,' Longwell’s focus-group members told her. To vote differently wouldn’t just be an intellectual decision for these voters. It would tear them away from their tribe."
It’s about community:
"What’s important, she told me, is to find people who can offer a crucial form of reassurance: Once you change your vote or your politics, once you break from what everyone around you is doing, #you won’t be alone.’"
"What’s important, she told me, is to find people who can offer a crucial form of reassurance: Once you change your vote or your politics, once you break from what everyone around you is doing, #you won’t be alone.’"
Since this pandemic started I’ve complained a lot about us not learning from past experiences, from other countries’ experiences, from each others’ experiences.
I like that Applebaum does exactly that, drawing on the Orange Alternative, Operation Libero or the Lincoln Project.
I like that Applebaum does exactly that, drawing on the Orange Alternative, Operation Libero or the Lincoln Project.
Really, go and read the entire piece, it's worth your time.
And remember:
"In this post-mass-media era, sowing division is far easier than creating unity, giving an advantage to politicians who seek to win by creating scapegoats and enemies.” https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/08/how-beat-populists-when-facts-dont-matter/615082/
And remember:
"In this post-mass-media era, sowing division is far easier than creating unity, giving an advantage to politicians who seek to win by creating scapegoats and enemies.” https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/08/how-beat-populists-when-facts-dont-matter/615082/
I also really like the part about “laughtivism” and using humour as a tool. Though, of course, as a German, that option isn’t available to me. 
