Media jihad: What PR can learn in Islamic State's public relations masterclass

Islamic State (IS) has been vilified for its brutality and admired for the sophistication of its media productions. This conceptual paper argues that IS media is not propaganda in the western sense but rather propagation of a minoritarian 'take' on Islam. IS media are not simply fora for the gratuitous display of violence but rather venues for rational, strategic communication designed mainly for regional consumption. Global audiences are targeted, too, but media produced for them is less voluminous than that presented to populations in IS-controlled areas and surrounding regions. While Islamic State's diverse media output is not western-style public relations, the artifice and artefacts employed in the group's “media war” are not only relevant but also noteworthy for public relations professionals.