Svetlana Siljjanoksa is the Communication and Public Relations Associate for NATO and Security Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia. In this role, she manages strategic communication related to NATO and security affairs and oversees the development of crises and hybrid threat communication strategies for ministries. Svetlana leads the team responsible for developing North Macedonia’s national security strategy. She also serves on the operational team working to build resilience towards hybrid threats. In her previous position with the Office of the Prime Minister, she played a major role in building and implementing the government’s communication system and strategy, including international communication and crisis communication protocols, proactive transparency, and online and offline political and policy campaigns.  

IVLP Impact Award Project: Myths That Shaped a Generation

The project tackles deeply rooted, divisive super narratives that promote disinformation leading to inter-ethnic tensions and xenophobic messaging. Svetlana’s goal is to dismantle and debunk these super narratives through five podcast episodes backed by research and relevant data around the creation of the myths. Each podcast episode will include professors, research journalists, specialized NGO experts, and psychologists who will provide their expertise on the structure of these divisive super narratives and the consequences of propagating this disinformation on local communities and North Macedonia as a whole. The project will shed light on national myths and educate the North Macedonian public on how divisive national narratives lead to a disinformation build-up and provide the negative context to further divide society.  

Svetlana secured 12 experts to discuss the topic of disinformation and how it plays into inter-ethnic and xenophobic rhetoric in local communities and North Macedonia in general. The project team is now focused on researching the podcast content and recording each episode. The first episode is in post-production and will be released by October 13. The remaining four will be published over the next three months.

Click here to listen to Svetlana's Podcast

“I'm hoping to challenge the divisive narratives and add to the…chances of younger generations for building a better society.” – Svetlana Siljjanoska 

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Svetlana participated in the IVLP Project Strategic Communication for Government Press Offices organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center, in partnership with International Center of the Capital Region and the New York Program Branch.  

Svetlana’s exchange experience led to the development of her project: “My overall IVLP experience has taught me that strategic communications, especially the government’s strategic communications, are deeply dependent on the networks and relations with media and media-related stakeholders in the society. So, the project is developed based on these three pillars: cooperation with media, NGOs, and academics; delivering myth-busting narratives through trusted sources; and including the younger generation in countering anti-divisive narratives.” 

“[IVLP is an] eye-opening experience that broadens your perspective and accelerates…knowledge into change.” – Svetlana Siljjanoska 

U.S. Communities Visited

Washington, DC; Albany, NY; New York City, NY 

Country: North Macedonia

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