Jon Gingerich

Politicians using NYC ‘mosque’ to promote their own agendas

Jon — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:15:23 +0000

It’s often the dumbest news stories that get the most traction. Runaway bride, shark summer, Monica Lewinsky, SARS — believe me, I could go on all day. Leave it to the American conversation to hone in on the most inane, milquetoast concern and drive it into the ground. We have a habit of painting the years with trivial, ratings-wary, hot-button topics set in motion by vote-hungry politicians and book-peddling talking heads who fill redeye media tour circuits so they can enlighten a nation of riled rubes and their bloviating, bovine worldviews.

This month’s flavor: Park 51, the proposed Islamic cultural center and mosque to be built in New York City’s financial district, near the former site of the World Trade Center. And here I am, like an idiot, ready to add to the conversation.

(more…)

Consumers, competitors deride Google / Verizon pact

Jon — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:18:51 +0000

After weeks of deafening scrutiny from the public and an arresting silence from the accused, Google and Verizon in August finally disclosed the details surrounding their much-speculated partnership in the form of a joint-policy proposal to Congress. Experts say the plan will not only shape how future partnerships occur between content and service providers, but will forever change the face and scope of the Internet as we know it.

(more…)

Google reneges on ‘open Web’ policy

Jon — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:43:44 +0000

Google’s long-time standing as outspoken vanguards of an ‘open’ Internet is now being called into question, after details have surfaced regarding its shady forthcoming partnership with Verizon.

Read the rest of this article here.

A timeline of finger-pointing: Blame flies as loose as facts in wake of Sherrod ‘scandal’

Jon — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:39:50 +0000

Old habits die hard. White House officials, political pundits and TV networks baited by the Shirley Sherrod “racism” hoax have been as quick to pass the buck for their stake in the phony story as they were to spread its apocryphal content in the first place.

Read the rest of this article here.

The ‘news’ in 2010: fewer facts, more fiction

Jon — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:03:09 +0000

The news is big business. Given the historic media mergers planned this summer, you can expect network news to reveal even more bias than before. Contrary to popular belief, network television’s fiction-before-facts approach isn’t nearly as politically motivated as it is the result of internal measures made to reiterate and reward networks’ preexisting profit structure.

(more…)

What’s Wrong with the Internet? A Manifesto.

Jon — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:03:28 +0000

People say a lot of dumb things. This has always been an unfortunate feature of ours, but it’s especially apparent given the volumes we’re now able to transmit and receive. The Internet’s biggest achievement seems to have been its ability to give a soapbox to those who least need it. For users seeking access to legitimate, unbiased information, the advent of our infinite library comes as somewhat of a Pyrrhic victory.

(more…)

Reality TV product placement has gone too far

Jon — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:48:57 +0000

It’s a sight I’m sadly getting used to. During a recent episode of “No Reservations,” Anthony Bourdain offers to pay for dinner at an Istanbul restaurant. “Let me get this,” he says emphatically, as the camera cuts to a close-up of his Chase Sapphire Card. As a fan of the show, I’m disappointed.

(more…)

America’s eating problem

Jon — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:35:18 +0000

This article, featured in the March issue of O’Dwyer’s, asks a question that affects everyone in today’s economic climate yet is often overlooked: why are the most affordable foods in the U.S. always the ones that are bad for you?

Read the rest of this article here.

Media needs to dissociate from blog sensationalism

Jon — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:01:18 +0000

Our top news networks are co-opting the lowest, most sensationalistic denominators of celebrity and gossip news in a desperate attempt to lure viewers, resulting in an aesthetic that lies somewhere between a performance art installation and the lost scenes from a Felini film.

(more…)

Since when have Republicans been for small government?

Jon — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:20:48 +0000

In this new essay I show that every Republican leader of the past 35 years has consistently worked to expand the presence of government at every level, contrary to their constituency’s core party ‘values.’

Read the rest of this article here.