Tony McMahon
British strategic communications practitioner; Breakthrough Media / Zinc Network staffer (2013–2019); Head of Networks at The Network Hub; later consultant for REOC Communications (Richard Chalk); involved in exporting the RICU “hub” model of deniable counter-narrative campaigns to European civil-society organisations
| Tony McMahon | |
|---|---|
| Image | |
| Born | |
| Died | |
| Nationality | British |
| Residence | |
| Occupation | Strategic communications; network building; consultancy |
| Known for | Head of Networks, Network Hub (while at Breakthrough Media); consultant for REOC Communications (Richard Chalk); role in RICU/Breakthrough network-management model and its European export via the ESCN |
| Parents | |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | |
| Sibling(s) | |
| Education | |
| Predecessor | |
| Website | |
Tony McMahon is a British strategic communications practitioner who worked at Breakthrough Media Network / Zinc Network from July 2013 to April 2019. While at Breakthrough he served as Head of Networks at The Network Hub (November 2017 – March 2019), the London-based service that applied the RICU-pioneered “hub” model of deniable campaign production to European civil-society organisations. After Breakthrough lost its principal Home Office contract in April 2019 he moved to a consultancy role with REOC Communications Limited, the company of former RICU head Richard Chalk.[1]
Breakthrough Media and the Network Hub
McMahon worked at Breakthrough Media from July 2013 to April 2019. He has described being involved from 2013 in developing a network of civil-society organisations (community groups) engaged in countering violent extremism and building community cohesion in the UK, working closely with the Home Office and organisations in the faith, women and youth sectors. This was the original UK application of the network-management model that Zinc later described as having been pioneered for RICU in 2012, bringing together more than 60 organisations to campaign against extremism while keeping the contractor’s and RICU’s involvement confidential.[1]
From November 2017 to March 2019 he was Head of Networks at The Network Hub while still employed at Breakthrough. The dates fully overlap, indicating that the Hub was operated by Breakthrough personnel. At the Hub he stated that he “built a network of European civil society groups engaged in intervening against violent extremism – from Daesh, Al Qaeda and the extreme Right. This involved working with groups in France, Germany, the Benelux, Nordic region and southern Europe to develop communications strategies for reaching audiences vulnerable to radicalisation. I also liaised with officials from government departments across EU member states including Interior and Justice ministries.” The Hub’s work formed part of the broader European Strategic Communications Network effort to export RICU-style campaigns.[1]
REOC Communications
After Breakthrough lost the Home Office contract in April 2019, McMahon went on to work as a consultant for REOC Communications, the small company of which Richard Chalk (former head of RICU and reported Head of the ESCN in 2017) is the sole director. Companies House records show REOC Communications Limited was registered in 2006.[1][2]
See also
- Breakthrough Media Network / Zinc Network
- Network Hub
- European Strategic Communications Network
- Research, Information and Communications Unit
- Richard Chalk
- REOC Communications Limited
- Simon Theis Jensen
- Luke Havill
External links
- David Miller, The Radicalisation Awareness Network (Spinwatch / Public Interest Investigations, February 2022) – Chapter 5
- The Guardian, 2 May 2016 (“Inside Ricu…”)
- Companies House: Richard Edward Oliver Chalk / REOC Communications Limited
- LinkedIn profile of Tony McMahon (contemporary references in Miller 2022)
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 David Miller, The Radicalisation Awareness Network: Policy network in search of an evidence base or covert propaganda platform?, Public Interest Investigations / Spinwatch, February 2022, Chapter 5.
- ↑ Companies House, Richard Edward Oliver Chalk appointments (REOC Communications Limited).