The Islamic State group is producing more propaganda than any other jihadist movement and is concentrating on attracting recruits with promises of a flourishing and happy society.
That is the conclusion of a report by the London-based anti-extremism think tank Quilliam which studied a months worth of output from the middle of June.
Well over one thousand items including videos and photo essays were produced around the world, with the vast share emanating from Iraq and Syria. Catherine Drew sat down in London with Charlie Winter, the lead researcher on the project.
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Charlie Winter has spent months analysing IS propaganda in all its forms…. his conclusion…that the Ismamic State's sophisticated propaganda machine has changed focus…. and is now promoting the good life enjoyed by those living under IS control.
INSERT: CHARLIE WINTER, QUILLIAM FOUNDATION
They;re trying to create this aura that everything is going on as normal, in Islamic State held territories, but actually better than normal, that there's economic activity, abundant wildlife, lots of happy children everywhere. I mean it's a very transparent way to sell itself as a utopia.
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And there are testimonials, such as this video purporting to show an Australian citizen who joined the group and now works in a Raqqa hospital.
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Winter found the group produced well over one thousand items in the month he analysed, about double the amount he expected to find. Of those only 19 videos or photo essays featured the brutality the group has become known for… and appeared to be intended to keep their own population under control.
INSERT: CHARLIE WINTER, QUILLIAM FOUNDATION
The focus has really moved away from taunting the west with Jihadi John or with the mass killing of christians which really did create a massive massive media halo for the Islamic State, it's moved, it's more focussing on intimidating the internal population such that they don't think about dissenting or think about engaging in espionage.
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Charlie Winter says the sophisticated propaganda operation that makes full use of social media is unlike anything seen before.
INSERT: CHARLIE WINTER, QUILLIAM FOUNDATION
This is a propaganda operation on a really industrial scale. There's nothing like this in any other jihadist group. Of course jihadist groups engage in propaganda, they all do, but nothing like this.
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Quilliam says governments will have to scale up their counter propaganda efforts dramatically if they are to take on the Islamic State's narrative and to rethink how those counter messages are delivered, to reach those that might be tempted by promises of an islamic utopia
Catherine Drew, sign off, London