Online

How J.C. Penney Became The Number One Search Result For Nearly Every Google Search

The NY Times has a great investigative report on how J.C. Penney became the number one search result for countless search terms on Google. Dresses, bedding, area rugs, skinny jeans, tablecloths and even grommet top curtains and more words popped J.C. Penney up as number one. Not Amazon, not Macy’s, not any of the other bigger stores but J.C. Penney. How did this happen?


March 7, 2010
Online

Human-Flesh Search Engines: China’s Mainstream Net Vigilantism

This week’s New York Times Magazine looks at China’s human-flesh searches, a widespread practice in which “netizens” systematically track and harass individuals ranging from adulterers to corrupt local officials. But the searches tread a fine line between justice and revenge.