Ever since Sea Trek 2001 was introduced last year in the United Kingdom, articles of acceptance and support have been printed. The latest tally is that some 30 news articles have appeared so far during the two weeks of Sea Trek at four United Kingdom ports: Greenock, Scotland; Hull, Liverpool and Portsmouth, England.
Printed media reports as well as radio and TV broadcasts have been generated all over Great Britain.
While the final count and impact of coverage of the "gathering" and the "crossing" have yet to be identified, the news is expected to continue into October when the ships arrive in New York City.
The most significant coverage has been on BBC 2 Television, which presented a nationwide half-hour special program, Aug. 23, at prime time, 7:30 p.m. The production was very positive and fair and was viewed by an audience of more than 2 million.
On Sunday, Aug. 26, two national radio programs aired Sea Trek subjects. One, with LDS lecturers, was heard by 1.6 million. Earlier that same Sunday BBC Radio 2 aired Sea Trek interviews heard by 2.5 million. So in one hour on national radio, more than 4 million listeners heard positive Sea Trek and LDS information.
A media packet and subsequent news releases describing the historic significance of the event, Church beliefs, family history activities, a sculpture given as a memory and thanks to those who cradled our ancestors, stories of early saints leaving their homeland to follow their religious beliefs, building the Utah desert into Salt Lake City — home of the 2002 Winter Olympics — all these and more have left positive impressions about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on people in the United Kingdom.
Recent headlines include: "The Migrants Return," "Voyage into History," Daily Post, Liverpool; "Mormons follow in the wake of founding fathers," Daily Telegram; "Waves of nostalgia," Greenock Telegraph; "History Recreated in Liverpool, Organized by Mormons," ITV - Granada TV News; "Mormon Mass Migration Remembered," BBC Website.
BBC 4 Radio, a nationwide program, also carried a 10-15 minute segment on Sea Trek 2001 and asked the one of the LDS lecturers to explain what he believed.
"About the migration?" he asked.
"No, about how your Church got started — about Joseph Smith."
The professor then was able to tell the Joseph Smith story to tens of thousands of listeners! This is a small sampling of some of the unbelievable media coverage.
As to the impact on Great Britain and Scandinavia, that story is yet to unfold. However, if one were to ask any member of the Church how they felt — and how they think their friends and neighbors feel about the Sea Trek experience — you would hear nothing but superlatives, mingled with increased pride in their membership in the Church. Hundreds of local members participated as volunteers helping as guides, family history assistants, ushers, and in the choirs of the "Saints on the Seas" concerts. These experiences have helped them to be bolder in discussing the gospel with others.
"I've never seen one negative article or comment from the media," said Libby Elles, media director for Sea Trek, and a news professional.
Mass BBC coverage on TV and Radio for an event like this is "to die for," she said. "It couldn't have been better. Nothing against the Mormon faith was ever published. Tall ships by themselves always create a story", she continued, "but the purposes of Sea Trek were what created the news and the favorable impressions."
John and Shauna Hart, from Atlanta, Ga., completed their public affairs mission in England following this report.
