Radio Broadcasting Gone "Popularly" Wrong

z103.5, 104.5 CHUM FM, KISS 92.5, 99.9 Virgin Radio—as a Torontonian, all these must ring a bell. But if it still doesn't, the italicized word in the previous sentence (or the title itself) should have given you an answer. It doesn't matter how many flat screens, iPods, iPhones, iPads, or any other media devices you and or any individuals may have at home nowadays, the fact still remains that traditional radio broadcasting is still very much alive and more influential than you think.

Created in the 1920s by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), radio was the first form of broadcasting media. As the years unfolded, advertisement companies began to believe that radio can be used to sell items so from that point on, radio began to take on a commercialized identity, superseding print advertisement in 1937, which was the dominant mode of advertising at the time. By this time, Christians took advantage of this and used the radio to broadcast their own messages as well and they still continue to do so today. One example of such is Family Radio.

Founded by Harold Camping and colleagues, this radio station was infamously known for their predictions (using "biblical evidence") made on air regarding the end of the world, the most recent dates being May 21, 2011 and October 21, 2011. 

Needless to say since I am still able to write this post here, Camping's predictions were false. Many, like me, didn't bother to give a second thought to such a ludicrous prediction, but that doesn't mean others did the same. In fact, some people were so swayed by Camping's prediction that they went to the extreme to "prepare" for such an apocalyptic event. Here are two examples:

Case 1: Robert Fitzpatrick

To warn others about the end of time, this individual spent $140 000 of his life savings on transit-ads promotion. For more information, visit:

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/992600--nyc-man-spends-life-savings-on-doomsday-ad-campaign?bn=1&sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4dd2b0c52aa15486%2C0

Case 2: Lynn Benedetto

This woman tried to kill herself along with her kids before the end of the world came to pass.

The above are but two examples of the extent of impact that Family Radio had on Americans. If these people were swayed or "brainwashed" to this extent, it is evident that there are others who succumbed the same way seeing how Family Radio broadcasts to more than 150 markets in the United States. But to expand the demographics, here's a link to an article about a fourteen year old Russian girl who committed suicide because of Harold Camping's prediction:

http://www.christianpost.com/news/fearful-teen-commits-suicide-due-to-harold-campings-doomsday-50542/

It's definitely unfortunate to hear such tragic stories, but Family Radio is but one example that demonstrates how radio still continues to be a great influential force in today's economy, even within religious domains. Sometimes such influence may be adverse, but more often than not, even though we may hear it every day, they are subtle. Cue music on a car ride.    

Till the World Ends - Britney Spears

(No pun intended)