'Responding to extremisms: media roles and responsibilities', Bournemouth University, 15 July 2011 .

Ben O'Loughlin is an invited speaker at this one-day conference at The Media School, Bournemouth University.

The oxygen of publicity or the right to a platform? How are different forms of extremism covered in our national media, and does this serve to marginalise or legitimise extremist groups? What are the media strategies of these groups, and what potential do social media have to change their prospects? What are or should be the relations between media professionals and police and security services, community organisations and other stakeholders? How will the media influence the success or otherwise of the soon to be revised PREVENT strategy?

These and other questions will be discussed at this one-day event to be held in Bournemouth University's Executive Business Centre, organised by the University's Media School. There is no charge for registration; refreshments and lunch will be provided. Register here.

The conference will bring together academics, journalists and others professionally involved in responding to violent or potentially violent extremisms. Confirmed speakers so far include academics Professor Nigel Copsey (Teesside University) on the BNP, Professor Jonathan Githens-Mazer (University of Exeter) on jihadism, and Professor Andrew Hoskins (University of Glasgow) and Dr. Ben O'Loughlin (Royal Holloway University) on how extremist messages are presented in mainstream media. Inspector Alan Jenkins (Dorset Police) will talk about the EDL; Valentina Soria (Royal United Services Institute) will discuss Wikileaks, and Mark Gill (Woodnewton Associates) will review relevant public opinion data. Speakers offering journalist points of view will include Stephen Jukes (Dean of the Media School at Bournemouth University, former Reuters Head of Global News), and Gavin Rees (European Director of the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma). The conference is linked to the development of a web-based resource for people working in this area, the Containing Extremism Research Briefing.