newjerseynewsroom.com

UNICO National, the nation's largest Italian American service organization, is bringing its anti-bias war to the shore — to Seaside Heights, N.J., the hometown of MTV's infamous stereotyping and ethnic-bashing reality series, "Jersey Shore!"

A number of expert panelists, including UNICO National President Andre' DiMino, Italian American One Voice Chairman and Founder Dr. Manny Alfano, a number of invited guests and elected local and state officials, are set to examine MTV's "Jersey Shore" as part of an overview of the stereotyping of Italian Americans in mass media on Saturday, January 30th at Seaside Heights.

MTV CEO, Judith McGrath and MTV President of Programming, Tony DiSanto will also be invited to attend and comment on MTV's policies with respect to this series.

The event is entitled UNICO's S.O.S. "Summit On the Shore: Anti-Italianism — MTV's 'Jersey Shore' and a Whole Lot More!"

Council member Joyce Camera will be welcoming attendees on behalf of the Borough of Seaside Heights.

The Summit on the Shore is set for Jan. 30 at 1 p.m. at the Seaside Heights Community Center, 1000 Bay Avenue.

"It's only appropriate that we bring this to the place where this abomination of a TV show was filmed," DiMino said, noting that many area residents and borough officials have expressed disapproval with MTV and the show's anti-Italian content. "The sad part is that ‘Jersey Shore' is merely the latest entry in a long-line of shows and media depictions that have ultimately stereotyped and degraded Italian Americans for decades. We plan on discussing this phenomenon, and our call to action."

— ANDY LAGOMARSINO, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM