Adil Ray. Image via BBC.

When the flags go down at the flagship, you know something is wrong.

Well, that’s apparently what’s going down at the primer [South] Asian radio station in the UK.

BBC Asian Network’s morning host, Adil Ray, is apparently receiving death threats from Sikhs who believe that he insulted their culture on air. The actual show has since been pulled from the “listen back” feature on the website.

According to the Telegraph in the UK, it went down like this:-

The BBC were forced to remove a show from their website after Adil Ray, a popular Muslim presenter, received threats from Sikh listeners who accused him of denigrating one of their religious symbols.

The row centres around a show broadcast earlier this month in which Ray discussed a Punjabi music concert in Canada where police had banned a number of Sikhs who refused to remove their “kirpan” dagger.

Looks like the BBC Asian Network has a civil war of their own kind going on. Well, that’s what this is when you  really look at it:-

• The primer Asian radio station in the UK
• Listeners are mostly Asian
• Asian-specific programming
• An Asian-Muslim host in the middle
• Apparently stuck in the middle against his own (there is Punjab in Pakistan, btw) kind

Sounds a bit messy and blown out of proportion in my opinion. But then again, that’s just my opinion…

What say you?

Dear BBC,

If I were the head of Public Relations for the BBC Asian Network this what I would:-

Offer an on-air apology and explanation

First things first, be civil and explain your side of the story. That’s journalism 101, that’s being an adult – and it’s what you have to do.

Sure this was already done, but umm seriously…if I’m hearing about it in the US (still) you didn’t do something right.

As the BBC, you are publicly funded – don’t anger the hand that feeds you and has the power to take away your food aka some of your money.

Invite/create a new series that talks about racism and why certain things seem racist to some groups, while harmless to others.

I know you British look at us as the colony that got away and basically ruined your good tea. But for once in the history of post-colonialism and the world – listen to us (not how Tony Blair did with W.) and take some advice from our current leader, President Obama; do what we did.

If I ran your public relations department, I have three words for you: Obama’s Happy Hour aka “Chai Hour.”

Learn your lesson

Well, word on the internet street says that this isn’t the first time Sikhs have been angry with the BBC Asian Network. Less than a month prior, a cultural media monitoring organization called the BBC out on another one of Ray’s segments on his show.

The thing is, whether you consider it a big deal or not, is beside the point.

Your audience = listeners = rates = revenue = your survival.

Radio via TiViD in DeviantArt

Figure out who you are

Yes, I know you are the BBC Asian Network and you are a sector of one of the BEST news organizations on the planet. But you are the BBC Asian Network, not the BBC. Most of all, you are publically funded. But just because your competition doesn’t really hold a candle to you and just because you are the 800 lbs. gorilla, doesn’t make you invincible.

I would sit down and try to figure out what sets you apart. If you really wanted to know, I could tell you – but then you’d have to hire me

Social Media! (my favourite thing ever)

Think of it like this: I “listen” to your station, you “listen” to my opinion. You “articulate” your content, I “articulate” my thoughts on your content. I “suggest” because I want to keep listening, you “implement” because you want me to keep listening.

By developing and detonating an integrated plan of engagement, it will enable you to maintain a critical amount of control, integrity and perfectly aimed level communication…near perfect anyway.

BBC Asian Network you seem to have scrapped your knee. Let me put it to you this way, if read about you on my Twitter feed, and you showed up instantly on news.google.com, therefore meaning, I didn’t have to “search” to find out about this ‘issue’ – yes, you have made a boo-boo.

But NOT irrevocably.

On a last note, hey, BBC America, since I live in the U.S. – I think you should hire me

Sincerely,

Me xx.

Adil Ray. Image via TV Scoop for the BBC.

On another note — I ask, could this be one giant misunderstanding?

 A giant  cultural, media misunderstanding?

One more question for you — should public radio be regulated?

I mean seriously folks, we are talking about the guy who used to do breathing impressions on his late night show, is known of his sense of humor, created MC Raa and can even make fun of himself and his religion. He’s done serious interviews in the likes of Desi DNA and there is a reason he was moved from late night broadcasts to the early morning show.

Case and point, see below (BTW, when watching the clip below, keep in mind that Adil Ray is Muslim):-

Get my drift?

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Sasha Muradali runs the ‘Little Pink Book’ . She holds a B.S. in Public Relations from the University of Florida (’07) and an M.A. in International Administration from the University of Miami(’08). She loves Twitter and all things social media, so you should find her @SashaHalima.

Copyright © 2009 SashaH. Muradali. All Rights Reserved