Discover the book created by Excelia Communication School students

Décryptages

Students on the MSc in Digital Communication publish Décryptages, a unique collective work on communication and influence in the digital age. A key reference for future communication professionals.

An editorial project led from start to finish by the students 

Students on the MSc in Digital Communication and Influence Strategies have produced Décryptages – Communication, manipulation, influence in the digital age.
Born out of the conference organised last March, which brought together almost one hundred participants, this book is the culmination of a fully-fledged editorial project managed from start to finish by the students.

Supervised by the School Director, Emmanuel Carré, and by Alexandre Eyriès, they oversaw the entire process: academic design, editorial coordination, copy-editing, preparation of the manuscripts and monitoring of publication.
A demanding, highly professional and profoundly formative experience.

 

Exploring the mechanics of influence… and understanding that communication concerns us all

Each chapter, written by one or more students and professionals, unpacks a key concept in digital communication: manipulation, disinformation, algorithms, storytelling, digital identity, online seduction…

  • The aim: to shed light on often complex phenomena and make them accessible to everyone.

Because communication is not reserved for experts:
we all communicate every day, and we are all affected by dynamics of influence, perception and persuasion.
The book therefore offers useful points of reference for students and teachers alike, for practitioners, and for anyone wishing to understand how our digital interactions are evolving.

The references used are firmly rooted in contemporary culture: influence practices, viral uses, and the strategies of brands or content creators such as Léna Situations, whose work sheds light on current codes.

 

A structure that demonstrates as much as it explains: applied reasoning

One of the strengths of the book lies in its consistency between form and content.
Most chapters are constructed as genuine demonstrations:

  • a compelling introduction

  • a clear statement of the issue

  • a structured analysis

  • a broader perspective

This progression, inspired by syllogistic reasoning, shows not only how we explain, but also how we influence.

This interplay between method and content makes for a fluid, engaging and particularly insightful read.

 

Concrete examples presented as invitations to reflect

Without revealing the chapters, the book piques curiosity with evocative examples:

  • if you want to understand how Nike uses storytelling to turn a slogan into a driver of collective engagement

  • if you would like to see how a nudge marketing device – such as interactive bins that invite passers-by to throw away their cigarette butts in order to “vote” – can genuinely change behaviour

  • if you are intrigued by the way our digital identity shapes our interactions

…then Décryptages will give you the tools to analyse these mechanisms, while preserving the pleasure of discovery.

 

A distinctive visual identity

The cover, a graphic design project supervised by Pascal Sémur and created by student Ambre Bougras, offers a visual interpretation of the book’s central theme: the interplay between clarity, illusion and influence.

This work resonates particularly strongly with the ethos of the Studio at Excelia Communication School, a professional space dedicated to design, branding and editorial creation.

 

Décryptages

 

Experts who deepen the analysis

Speakers from the conference have also contributed to the book, reinforcing its academic and professional scope:

  • Laura Pargade (journalist) – Disinformation

  • Benoit Lachamp (manager and magician) – Illusion

  • Pascal Lardellier (University Professor) – Online seduction

 

A teaching approach that makes students active players in their own learning

This project fully embodies the pedagogy of Excelia Communication School :

  • genuine professional experience through a complete editorial project

  • rigorous academic support

  • development of strategic skills

  • authentic, real-world situations

  • close collaboration between students, faculty and experts

With Décryptages, students do not simply learn:
they experiment, they produce, they share.
They become authors, analysts and, above all, active agents in their own skills development.

A book for understanding, questioning and debating

Accessible, rigorous and firmly rooted in the present, Décryptages is aimed at all those who want to grasp the invisible logics of communication.
It fuels debate, develops critical thinking and provides practical tools for analysing the dynamics of influence that shape our everyday lives.

How to get a copy: the book is available on major online platforms and on the website of Éditions L’Harmattan. 

 

Discover the back-cover blurb, which captures its ambition:

"In the age of social media, influence and manipulation appear to have corrupted the very act of communicating. Between seduction and disinformation, between illusion and reality, how can we navigate today’s information ecosystem with clarity of mind? 
Three key questions frame this collective reflection: why is communicating sometimes akin to manipulating? How do we communicate in the digital age? From the natural mechanisms of argumentation to the unprecedented challenges posed by algorithms, fake news and conspiracy theories, the contributors explore these complex frontiers.
Born of an original educational approach bringing together students and experts, the chapters blend theoretical analyses and concrete examples, interweaving storytelling and nudge marketing, bots and fact-checking, influencer ethics and digital illusions.
A vital critical reflection for anyone wishing to sharpen their critical thinking in the face of the new challenges of communication." 

 

 

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