MEDIA EXPOSURE FOR GUERNSEY BAHÁ’ÍS

The Bahá’í community on the Channel Island of Guernsey may not be one of the largest in the country. Nor are its four members in the prime of their youth, or the best of health. Nevertheless, this intrepid little community has been enjoying something of a high-profile recently thanks to interest from the BBC radio station on the island.

Bahá’í representatives were invited along to a meeting at BBC Radio Guernsey to discuss the possibility of presenting a series of ‘Thought for the Day’ slots, called Guidelines. The head of the religious department there, Colin Le Ray, asked the Bahá’ís to present five morning items to be broadcast in August, twice each morning during one week. At the end of the week, the Bahá’ís were also asked to prepare a Sunday Morning Service broadcast, lasting around 18 minutes. Being asked to take part in Guidelines was a first for the Guernsey Bahá’ís. The response was excellent and listeners reported that they had liked the content and found it different from the usual presentations. Around the same time, the community was asked to provide a Thought for the Week in the local newspaper. Highlights from an inter faith event organized by the Bahá’ís have also since been featured in a Sunday morning programme on BBC Radio Guernsey.

AS-C