A resource for the Muslim Community to address both crisis and everyday PR.
Other resources:
http://www.cair.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwEo6g7L9WU&feature=youtu.be
7. If you don’t
know the
answer, say
so
COMMUNICATING IN A
Stick to the basics:
Don’t get
Defensive
Stick to the Facts
Smile
You’re not
under siege
7
8. Muslims SWOT Analysis
8
Strengths
Diversity,
Faith, Natural
resources, young
population
Cultural values and
natural beauty
Weaknesses
Ignorance of
faith, and
Prophetic spirit,
emotional,
Impatience, lack
of unity,…
Opportunities
Living in the West
in free societies
we can engage
and influence
discourse
Threats
With all weaknesses,
no political voice,
online propaganda
some youth vulnerable
9. In a National Crisis it is best to defer to
• CAIR: Council on American Islamic Relations
• MPAC: Muslim Public Affairs Council
• ING: Islamic Networks Group (for Education)
• Others
9
10. 1. PR in a National or International Crisis
2. PR in a Local Crisis
Agenda
12. Bad News Curve
Shock…Denial
Anger Depression
Acceptance
Understanding
Commitment
Moving On
“Oh God
Let it not be
Muslims” “It’s a Conspiracy
Against Muslims”
“We have our
small share of
crazies”
“Let’s find a
better way ”
12
13.
14. CHEERS: SIX ELEMENTS FOR
IDENTIFICATION
14
A problem related
to Violence or
Extremism does
or could affect the
vulnerable
members of the
Community.
The problem related
to Violence or
Extremism is
Harmful to
vulnerable members
of the community.
People Expect
the community
to solve the
problem
There has been
more than one
Event of a
similar type.
The problem
keeps
Recurring over
short or long
periods of time.
There is a
Similarity
between the
events or other
problems.
CHEERS method help define if a series of events or factors
could become a community problem or is already a
community problem
16. –It is a difficult task because:-
• It is frequent and stressful
• They want to know the “truth”
• We are required to tell them what they desire
• The truth is unpleasant and will upset them
• We are anxious and fear negative evaluation
• We feel a burden of responsibility for the news even
though we had no direct or indirect connection to it
Reacting to Bad News
16
17. Questions to Ask Internally
What are the
worst things that
can happen to my
organization?
What can we
prevent?
What are we
willing to do to
prevent the
event/incident?
Can we afford the
risk?
How will we deal
with it?
What is the
reporting and
communication
process during
the crisis?
17
18. 1. Why do you think this happened?
2. How long have you known about it?
3. What have you done so far?
4. What happened?
5. What caused it?
6. Who is responsible for that?
7. Couldn't you have prevented this?
8. Is it Safe?
9. Can it happen again?
10. What are you doing about it?
Questions the
Media may ask
18
20. 3 Ways of dealing with
media
1
2
3
Here is what happened
Here is what we know so far
Don’t have the facts here
yet, let me get back to you
20
21. Example Talking Points
This is Politics, not Religion
This does not represent the average Muslim
xxyy is a far greater threat to
Muslims than to Americans
This is a political movement that
uses a twisted version of Islam
Islam and Prophet Muhammad
lived and taught tolerance,
forgiveness and kindness
21
30. Selection of spokesperson
• Comfortable in front of a TV
camera
• Skilled in handling media
• Able to speak without using jargon
• Respectful of the role of the
reporter,
• knowledgeable about the
organization and the crisis at hand
• Able to establish credibility with
the media,
• Suitable in regard to diction,
appearance and charisma,
• Sincere, straightforward and
believable,
• Able to remain calm in stressful
situations.
30
31. Muslim PR Resources
• Example Individual Role Models
• Wajahat Ali
• Dalia Mogahed
• Reza Aslan
• Zaid Shakir
• Hamza Yusuf
• Linda Sarsour
• Suzanne Barakat
31
33. 1. PR in a National or International Crisis
2. PR in a Local Crisis
3. On-going Non-Crisis PR
Agenda
34. On-Going Non-Crisis PR
• Although in the present time rarely does a day
or week go by without some “bad” news
coming about Muslims, we have to focus our
efforts on the things we do have control off.
34
35. Circles of Control & Influence
Neighborhood & Peers
Community
Nation
Family
Self
Muslim World
36. Manage
Perceptions
Through
Education
Building
Awareness
Opinion
Personal
Relationships
How we can manage Perceptions
Being good
Ambassadors
with Neighbors
Co-workers,
Friends
& everyone
You come into
Contact with
Write Blogs
Share on Social
Media,
YouTube videos,
Opinion Pieces
Press Conferences
Meeting
Community
City Officials
Law Enforcement
Charitable work
Community Hours
Giving talks in Schools
Colleges
Open Houses in homes,
Mosques
36
37. The dearest to Allah is the one who is
most beneficial to people.
37
39. Stop doing this
• Stop saying that “Islam means peace”. That in
the current climate is not a credible statement
39
40. Stop doing this
• Stop saying how many great things Islam did
1,000 years ago. That is not relevant. People
want to know what Muslims are doing today
40
41. Stop doing this
• Stop talking about how bad American foreign
policy is since people will tune you out and
not listen. We are American-Muslims and we
need to build from our commonality.
41
42. Start doing this
• Fight fear with
facts. Some
politicians and
media are
spreading fear
about Muslims.
We need to
reframe the
conversation
42
43. Start doing this
• Educate our fellow Americans about how
many statements we’ve made against
terrorism. eg Check out the blog
www.notinislam.com
43
44. Start doing this
• Create alliances with interfaith groups so we
speak with a much larger and more credible
voice
44
45. Start doing this
• Invite our fellow
Americans to
meet Muslims.
The majority of
Americans have
not knowingly
met a Muslim. It’s
hard to demonize
someone when
you know them.
45
48. Significance of Volunteerism in Islam
• The meaning of volunteerism in Islam is the
offer of time, energy, efforts, skills, talent and
knowledge of your own will for the sake of
gaining God’s pleasure
• Volunteerism is thus the most fundamental
act of citizenship in our society as well as
special expression of one’s faith ,i.e., Islam.
48
49. • Volunteering is the lifeblood of any community.
• Because of volunteers communities are able to run
organizations, social services, conferences,
playgroups, drop-in centers, feed the hungry,
shelters the homeless, open libraries, run schools,
set up blood banks, and the list goes on.
• Paid employees only make up a small part of the
social services network; without volunteers such
endeavors would come to a standstill
50. Be a Goodwill Muslim Ambassador
(GMA) in your daily actions
50
60. 3 Things I will Commit to doing to be a
better Goodwill Muslim Ambassador
1. _________________________________
2. _________________________________
3. _________________________________
60