Dr. Nicole Matejic

Matejic, a former strategic communications and ministerial services specialist for Defence, takes us through the changing world of Defence in the age of social media, the advent of ISIS, and social media in a conflict environment.

The term ‘fake news’ has become the ultimate sledge and narrative equaliser in the war being fought for your on and offline perceptions. With global trust in crisis, the social media echo chamber is in a perpetual state of spin as facts are traded for fiction and rationality has fallen out of vogue.

This new approach is why the Islamic State is also successful. In an interview, social media and terrorism expert Nicole Matejic said, “They [ISIS] have taken the content marketing framework right from the best in class business tactics taught and used it to sell violent jihad..."

Core to Islamic extremists beliefs is that Allah approves of jihad; and should a warrior die as a result of his or her jihad – they become a martyr, immediately and automatically attaining the highest level of heavenly repose. All sins are absolved, all misdeeds forgotten. Immortal rewards vary from scores

During the Korean Summer of 2014, I boarded an early morning bus at Camp Kim USO in Yongsan, Seoul and headed for the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Visiting the DMZ was a top-10 travel bucket list goal. I’d long held a fascination with Korea and how it came to be

“That gun is loaded, but it’s not in my hand The fire burns, I’m not the one with the match – man That gun is loaded – but it’s not in my hand …” ~ Red Hands, from Canadian band ‘Walk Off the Earth.’ The blood is real – it’s been