The PR News Review: Zack Polanski’s winning style and the language of war

Ben Smith, Angie Moxham, and Mark Borkowski discuss the Greens' bi-election win in Gorton and Denton, attributing the success of the candidate, Hannah Spencer, and Zack Polanski's effective communication campaign that provided a message of hope, local authenticity, and leveraged identity politics against Labour.

On the show we also discuss the language of war in the Iran conflict, where Mark Borkowski noted the problematic trend of naming military operations like video games and the increased control of narrative through restricted journalist access.

Angie Moxham critiques the current political rhetoric as incendiary and thoughtless.

Details

• The Greens' Bi-election Win in Gorton and Denton: Angie Moxham suggested that the Greens' success, led by Zack Polanski, was anticipated because they effectively campaigned on a message of hope and optimism, which resonated with people fatigued by negative news. They concluded that the victory was more attributable to effective communication than to the specifics of the party's policy.
• Authenticity and Identity Politics in the Bi-election: Mark Borkowski emphasized the authenticity of the successful candidate, Hannah Spencer, who was described as a working-class local person with a background as a plumber and plasterer. This local identity and seeming distance from the "Westminster bubble" provided credibility and appeal to the electorate, suggesting that identity politics played a significant role. Angie Moxham added that the lack of a genuinely working-class Labour leader, referencing Keir Starmer, highlighted the smartness of the Greens' communication strategy.
• Campaign Strategy and Protest Vote Analysis: Mark Borkowski noted that a clever local campaign, including the alleged dark arts use of an image connecting Keir Starmer with Indian President Narendra Modi, to target the Pakistani community, was effective in the constituency.
• Regarding the nature of the win, Angie Moxham concluded that the victory was likely a combination of the local grassroots efforts and a broader desire among people for hope, especially considering the current negative climate in the UK.
• The Language of War and Conflict Communication: The discussion shifted to the communication strategies observed in relation to the conflict in Iran, involving the US and Israel. Mark Borkowski noted the concerning trend of giving military operations evocative names like "Operation Roaring Lion" and "Operation Epic Fury," suggesting that the conflict is being "sold" as a "Call of Duty type of game". This language aligns with the increasing mechaniaation of warfare, making it easier to engage in conflict without physical "boots on the ground".
• The Danger of Incendiary Political Rhetoric: Angie Moxham described the language of war, particularly from figures like Trump, as "absolutely excruciating" and incendiary. They expressed concern that this thoughtless, insulting rhetoric will only lead to more death and destruction, likening the political climate to a "child's playground.”
• Mark Borkowski agreed that there is a current lack of calming voices on the global scene, emphasising that the aggressive language is driven by the 24/7 news cycle.
• Media Control and Propaganda in Modern Warfare: Mark Borkowski highlighted the extreme control of the narrative, specifically citing the IDF’s restriction of independent journalists, which they contrasted with earlier conflicts where journalists had more access. They pointed out that both sides understand the power of propaganda, referencing ISIS’s carefully staged executions for YouTube, concluding that the current age amplifies the loudest voice, making it easier to create factionalization.