John C. Dvorak

About the author: John C. Dvorak is a contributing editor for PC Magazine. His work appears in several magazines and newspapers, including Boardwatch, Computer Shopper, and MicroTimes, and he is the author of several books on computers, including Dvorak's Guide to Telecommunications.

The public was led to believe that the reality TV series Joe Millionaire was a legitimate documentary. Television advertising and newspaper articles insisted that the show was real—unrehearsed and unscripted. Only the Internet hinted at the truth, suggesting that Joe was not who he claimed to be and that women on the show were actresses. When it was revealed that the show was actually a hoax and that Joe was not a millionaire but a construction worker, the public trust was violated to a degree that demanded Congressional investigation...