APOCALYPSE SOON: A NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF BROADCAST COVERAGE OF HAROLD CAMPING’S 2011 APOCALYPSE PREDICTION

Abstract

In reports regarding nontraditional religious organizations, the news media commonly present these groups in a satirical manner. Harold Camping’s May 2011 prediction of a biblical rapture was widely reported and was no exception to this satirical scrutiny. This study examines the television news media coverage of Camping and his prediction. Through narrative analysis, I examine how news reports on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and FOX constructed their narrative of Camping. I examine the narrative scripts that are presented in each news report in order to further understand how television news outlets present Camping, his followers, and the impact of his advertising campaign to the audience. Camping is primarily presented as untrustworthy, foolish, and manipulative toward his followers. Most reports utilized satire either directly through the correspondent or through visual and auditory elements. Each news outlet focused on the spread of information through social media and pop culture, as well as the widespread advertising campaign.