How can humour be used as a tool for Strategic Communication? This is the question the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence set out to answer together with a research team lead by Professor Žaneta Ozoliņa.
Researchers created an innovative framework for the analysis of humour as a communication tool and, based on this methodology, they analysed three case studies. The first case study looks at the late-night shows on Perviy Kanal and discreditation of Western political leaders. The second case study analyses KVN (Club of the Merry and Witty), the third looks at use of humour for solidarity, denigration and stress-relief in the Ukrainian media during the Russian aggression in 2014-2016. The study proposes a tool kit – a resource guide for utilising humour as an effective tool in strategic communication.
The outcome of the study can be used by different audiences. For the research community, the study offers an innovative multidisciplinary analytical framework for conducting theoretical research. Practitioners on the other hand, will find the case studies useful in their daily affairs owing to an extensive collection of facts, examples and practices. The section comprising conclusions, recommendations and the tool kit would be of value to multiple audiences ranging from researchers and practitioners to other members of society with a more general interest in humour.
Agenda:
- Presentation of the study methodology by Prof. Žaneta Ozoliņa, University of Latvia
- Case study: Late-night shows on Perviy kanal and discreditation of western political leaders by Ms Sigita Struberga, University of Latvia
- Case study: Use of humour for solidarity, denigration and stress-relief in the Ukrainian media during the Russian aggression in 2014-2016 by Mr Maksym Kiyak, Global Ukraine Foundation, Ukraine
Recording of the event can be found here.