By Zayani Bhatt
Temple Presidents and communications teams from ISKCON temples across the UK gathered at Bhaktivedanta Manor to mark National Communications Day 2016 on Saturday 30th January.
The day was dedicated to workshops, presentations and discussions centred on the communications strategy for the year, ideas for the 50th year celebrations and essential media training.
The national communications team intends to enhance cohesion across ISKCON temple communications throughout the UK and provide media support to both devotees who give interviews and those who write about ISKCON. The long-term aim is to unify the branding and messaging of all centres whilst maintaining the individuality and creativity of each.
The day also included a talk from special guest The Reverend George Pitcher, a journalist, author, public relations pioneer and Anglican priest. He spoke to the assembled devotees about the common barriers religious organisations face when communicating with the secular public and media.
The UK’s national co-ordinator for ISKCON 50, Devaki Dasi, led a brainstorming session on how devotees could creatively observe events (ranging from ISKCON-organised occasions to international events such as World Book Week) to make them bigger and better, emphasising the inspiring vision ISKCON has for its 50th year celebrations.
Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Managing Director Gauri Das explained “There is considerable interest in the Hare Krishnas and what they do, as well as continued stereotyping of us that goes back to the 60’s. Things are very different now and its good for devotees who speak to the media or write articles to compliment the skills they already have to communicate our message in a way better understood by the public.”
ISKCON UK’s Head of Media and Communications Mina Sharma led an interactive media workshop in which the team were given interview practice and viewed previous interviews given by ISKCON devotees to better understand where progress can be made.
In the words of Praphupada Prana Das, ISKCON Scotland’s temple president: “It has given us the inspiration to prepare ourselves to present our philosophy in the most acceptable way.”