Speech at the European Digital and Media Literacy Conference, Brussels Belgium, February 29, 2024.

1. A WHOLE-OF-SOCIETY
APPROACH TO VIOLENCE
PREVENTION
Renee Hobbs
University of Rhode Island USA
hobbs@uri.edu
@reneehobbs
https://mediaeducationlab.com

2. www.mediaeducationlab.com

3. A whole-of-society approach to reduce the fear and hate that leads to violence
through media literacy, active listening, kindness and compassion, and
community engagement

4. PREVIEW OF KEY IDEAS
Media & Technology Play a Significant Role
in Amplifying Hate
Dialogue and Discussion Programs Increase
Intellectual Humility and Reduce Defensiveness
Training in Active Listening Supports the
Application of Media Literacy Knowledge to Daily
Life
Courageous Conversations Help People
Find Common Ground

5. VIOLENT EXTREMISM

6. TERRORISM

7. Media Literacy as a Prevention Strategy
Analyzing and Evaluating Media
Evaluating information sources requires skills and critical thinking.
Separating fact from opinion, evaluating text and image for bias,
deconstructing a text to evaluate message quality and credibility are
important for people of all ages.
Part of Civic & Peace Education
Media literacy instruction is an aspect of civic and peace education
that helps develop media awareness that enables people use media
to combat misperceptions, prejudices, and hate speech while
demonstrating respect for freedom of expression.
Empowered Citizens
Media literacy also provides people with the skills to create their
own content, using information and communication technologies to
advance human rights, tolerance and a culture of peace.
Taing, Q. (2017). Preventing Violent Extremism through Education: A Guide
for Policymakers. Paris: UNESCO.

8. Extremists seek
radical change in society
stemming from their religious, social,
or political belief systems
ANTI-GOVERNMENT
EXTREMISM
WHITE SUPREMACY
EXTREMISM

9. Extremists seek
radical change in society
stemming from their religious, social,
or political belief systems
ANTI-GOVERNMENT
EXTREMISM
WHITE SUPREMACY
EXTREMISM

10. October 2023: The United States remains in a heightened threat environment.
Lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal
grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat. In the coming months, factors that could
mobilize individuals to commit violence include their perceptions of the 2024 general election cycle
and legislative or judicial decisions pertaining to sociopolitical issues.
Likely targets of potential violence include US critical infrastructure, faith-based institutions,
individuals or events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community, schools, racial and ethnic minorities,
and government facilities and personnel, including law enforcement.

11. Fear on the Rise
An 18-year old boy kills 19 children and 2 teachers in an elementary school in Texas in 2022

12. Fear on the Rise
The 8th American mass shooting of 2023: Killer takes the lives of 18 people in a small rural community in Maine

13. Fear on the Rise
On a day of celebration in Kansas City, Lisa Lopez-Galvan is killed and 22 people are shot including 11 children

14. 346
In 2023
Fear on the Rise

16. Media and digital platforms have numerous incentives
to showcase and celebrate violence

17. Media and digital platforms have numerous incentives
to showcase and celebrate violence

18. In 2023, 23% of
Americans agreed:
“Because things have
gotten so far off track, true
American patriots may
have to resort to violence
in order to save our
country.”
PRRI 2021 American Values Survey
SOURCE: Public Religion Research Institute, 2023

19. In an Attention Economy
Fueled by Hate

20. New Approaches
to Media Literacy
for Violence
Prevention are
Needed

21. www.courageousri.com

22. Courageous Conversations
Professional Development
for Teachers
Youth Media Contest
Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

23. Find Common Ground
Build Media Literacy Skills for a Lifetime
Stay Curious, Not Furious

24. A whole-of-society approach to
violence prevention
"While we can learn from media, we often
read into it based on our preconceptions."
"Wow! This is a politically diverse group.
Lots of different…views on the world
represented here.”
"I really enjoyed the perspective of others
and the respectful language used by all
people even when opinions differed.”

25. How do we decide who to trust?
How are digital technologies influencing people's
understanding of free speech, hate speech, and
censorship?
Who is targeted to receive harmful propaganda and
how does it affect them?
What do people need to know about social media
economics and the profit motives that underpin
conflict?
Why do stories, characters, and conflict change minds?

28. SESSION STRUCTURE
• Emotional check-in
• The Power of Two: Team leaders deliver
key information via a conversation
• Demonstrate the critical analysis of a
media artifact
• Introduce discussion questions
• Small group discussions (20 – 25
minutes)
• Large group: Time for reflection
• Invitation to learn more

30. LISTENING GUIDELINES 1.Speak for yourself and out of you own experiences
while recognizing that your words have an impact.
2.Be respectful. Allow others to do the same.
3.Share the time - allow others to finish speaking.
Take turns. Consider waiting for others to contribute
before speaking a second or third time.
4.Stay curious - ask honest questions when you need
clarification.
5.Pause - take time for reflection. Allow for silence.
6.Practice active listening and listen for understanding
- assume good intentions and notice what feelings
arise in you when others are speaking.
7.When possible, please close any unnecessary
programs, applications, and notifications and put your
phone on silent so you can be fully present.

31. LISTEN IN
ON THE PORTAL
www.courageousri.com/portal

32. Active
Listening
Intellectual
Humility
Media
Literacy
How Dialogue and Discussion Advances
Media Literacy Competencies
Exploratory research with participants who completed a pre-test
in May and a post-test in September 2023
N = 140

33. What is Intellectual Humility?
Valuing other
people’s beliefs
Recognizing limits of
knowledge and
fallibility

34. Active
Listening
Intellectual
Humility
Media
Literacy
Intellectual Humility
(4 item scale)
Intellectual Humility
• I question my own opinions, positions, and
viewpoints because they could be wrong.
• I accept that my beliefs may be wrong.
Defensiveness
• When others disagree with my ideas, I feel like
I'm being attacked.
• When others have different beliefs than me, I
feel like I'm being personally attacked.
Porter T, Elnakouri A, Meyers EA, Shibayama T, Jayawickreme E, Grossmann I. (2022).
Predictors and consequences of intellectual humility. National Review of Psychology
1(9):524-536. DOI: 10.1038/s44159-022-00081-9.

35. Active-Empathic Listening Scale (AELS)
(11-item scale)
Sensing
• I am sensitive to what others are not saying
• I am aware of what others imply but do not say
• I understand how others feel
• I listen for more than just the spoken words
Processing
• I assure others that I will remember what they say
• I summarize points of agreement and
disagreement when appropriate
• I keep track of points others make
Bodie, G.(2011) The Active-Empathic Listening Scale (AELS): Conceptualization and evidence of
validity within the interpersonal domain. Communication Quarterly, 59:3, 277-
295, DOI: 10.1080/01463373.2011.583495
Responding
• I assure others that I am listening by using
verbal acknowledgements
• I assure others that I am receptive to their
ideas
• I ask questions that show my understanding
of others’ positions
• I show others that I am listening by my body
language (e.g., head nods)
Active
Listening
Intellectual
Humility
Media
Literacy

36. Media Literacy
(4 item scale)
ML Knowledge
• I am knowledgeable about how to critically
analyze a media message.
• I am knowledgeable about how social media
affects communication and relationships.
ML Application
• I apply my knowledge about how to critically
analyze media when I am using media.
• I apply my knowledge about how social media
affects communication and relationships
when I am using media.
Hobbs, R., & Steager, P. (2023). Courageous Rhode Island: Measuring the impact of
dialogue and discussion programs on media literacy competencies. Prepublication
manuscript.
Active
Listening
Intellectual
Humility
Media
Literacy

37. ACTIVE
LISTENING Pre-Test Post-Test
M SD M SD t df p
Sensing 20.22 3.19 20.52 3.25 1.06 136 0.145
Processing 13.65 2.54 14.56 2.51 3.57 131 0.001
Responding 21.46 3.25 22.64 3.17 3.24 136 0.001
Research Results
Paired T-test
Active
Listening
Intellectual
Humility
Media
Literacy

38. Research Results
Pre-Test Post-Test
M SD M SD t df p
Active Listening 55.79 7.35 57.82 7.52 3.32 129 0.001
Intellectual Humility 7.69 1.16 8.07 0.967 3.53 138 0.001
Defensiveness 4.67 1.45 4.28 1.08 3.08 139 0.001
ML Knowledge 8.107 1.54 8.43 1.05 2.659 138 0.004
ML Application 7.92 1.56 8.49 1.16 4.427 138 0.001
Active
Listening
Intellectual
Humility
Media
Literacy

39. Research Results
Pre-Test Post-Test
M SD M SD t df p
Active Listening 55.79 7.35 57.82 7.52 3.32 129 0.001
Intellectual Humility 7.69 1.16 8.07 0.967 3.53 138 0.001
Defensiveness 4.67 1.45 4.28 1.08 3.08 139 0.001
ML Knowledge 8.107 1.54 8.43 1.05 2.659 138 0.004
ML Application 7.92 1.56 8.49 1.16 4.427 138 0.001
Active
Listening
Intellectual
Humility
Media
Literacy

40. Research Results
Pre-Test Post-Test
M SD M SD t df p
Active Listening 55.79 7.35 57.82 7.52 3.32 129 0.001
Intellectual Humility 7.69 1.16 8.07 0.967 3.53 138 0.001
Defensiveness 4.67 1.45 4.28 1.08 3.08 139 0.001
ML Knowledge 8.10 1.54 8.43 1.05 2.659 138 0.004
ML Application 7.92 1.56 8.49 1.16 4.427 138 0.001
Paired T-test
Active
Listening
Intellectual
Humility
Media
Literacy

41. Intellectual Humility
Active Listening
Media Literacy Knowledge
Defensiveness
How Dialogue and Discussion
Improves Media Literacy
Competencies
Media Literacy Application
Small group discussions about media
help adults recognize the limits
of their knowledge and understanding
Participants realize that they don’t have to agree with
someone to find value in their perspective
Small group discussions about media
provide adults with listening skills practice
and metacognitive reflection
Participants gain knowledge about
media that advances analysis skills
They are motivated to
apply analysis skills in daily life

42. Intellectual Humility
Active Listening
.266
-.228
.220
How Dialogue and Discussion
Improves Media Literacy
Competencies
.326
.779
Defensiveness
Media Literacy Knowledge
Media Literacy Application
Hobbs, R., & Steager, P. (2024). Measuring the impact of dialogue and discussion programs on media literacy competencies. Prepublication manuscript.

44. A WHOLE-OF-SOCIETY
APPROACH TO VIOLENCE
PREVENTION
Renee Hobbs
University of Rhode Island USA
hobbs@uri.edu
@reneehobbs
https://mediaeducationlab.com