Hello there. I’m Jack Carter Benjamin, an American (more specifically, Chicagoan) currently residing in London. I’ve started this little project primarily out of boredom. I don’t expect anyone to read it, let alone read it regularly, but I grew accustomed to submitting work into the void when I was applying for various jobs through online web portals and I just can’t seem to kick the habit. Clearly rejection by ignorance is a deep-seated desire of mine.
At present I’m employed as a journalist by a humble startup publication, The Media Leader, reporting on the US media industry while stationed abroad here. Don’t worry if it doesn’t make sense that I would come all the way out here to report on things happening all the way back over there. Best not to think too much about that.
Before that, I helped edit Cherwell’s opinion and film sections while I received a master’s degree from the University of Oxford in Comparative Social Policy. I studied the same subject as an undergraduate at Northwestern University. And because I’m lucky, I have interned at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and the US House of Representatives.
All that self-indulgence is to say that I’m ordinarily qualified to deliver to you writing of quality. What that quality is is for you to decide, though my hope is that if nothing else it brightens your day, or otherwise makes you forget the inherent meaninglessness of the time you’re subconsciously choosing to waste on your phone rather than doing something to the greater benefit of society.
The purpose of this blog is two-fold: 1) to give myself something to twiddle my thumbs at, and 2) to provide you, dear readers — all none of you — with my musings on politics, culture, and current affairs from across the pond.
I have always found it egotistical to assume that anyone out there would choose to read my content over the vast swaths of others out there with more expertise in any given field than I currently or will ever possess. If you’ve made it this far, I’m frankly judging you for it, but grateful to you all the same.
I’ll be updating my blog with commentary regularly.
In addition, in a separate section — Returning in Their Graves — I will be commissioning columns from historical figures (no exhumations necessary) where they will discuss contemporary events and issues from their much more qualified perspectives. These will be released on Fridays semi-regularly.
I will also be trying my hand at writing humorous sonnets, with a new one released every Sunday.
Everything will be free to read, comments will be turned on and will be considered and replied to.
I can only hope that you enjoy what I have to offer.
Cheers.
