Most people have heard of NGOs, but have you ever heard of GONGOs? GONGOs (rhymes with “bongos”) are “government-organized non-governmental organizations.” Yes, it’s an oxymoron. Meant to be distractions, these are often run by authoritarian countries as a way to adulterate criticism from human rights groups and other watchdogs. As the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe put it: GONGOs are “fake organizations that will shill for the government in an attempt to distract from repressive failings. GONGOs defend countries’ policies, attempt to delegitimize genuine civil society voices, and consume time, space, and other limited resources that could be used for real, meaningful dialogue.”
So how can you determine if an organization is a GONGO? How can you evaluate if a think tank has an agenda beyond what it might declare on its website? This tip sheet provided by Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy aims to help journalists ask critical questions before citing a think tank’s research or experts. Quoting a think tank without identifying its leaning or motivation is a disservice to your audience and could undermine your story.