In today’s era where newspapers and magazines are rife with sensational headline-making news, celebrity gossips, and super long ads, a piece of investigative journalism amid all of this noise is certainly a welcome relief. The roots of investigative journalists (informally called muckrakers) go back to the Progressive Era that was roughly from 1900 to 1917.
Who Were the Muckrakers?
Source = Allposters
‘Muckrakers’ was an informal term that was used for those journalists who strived to expose wrongdoings, dig up the truth and raise awareness about the socio-economic and political issues prevalent in America. With a spirit of bringing about reform and grabbing the public’s attention, the sensational news stories and jaw-dropping articles covered by such journalists investigated and revealed the malpractices in society.
However, in British English, the term ‘muckraker’ is used in a derogatory sense. More often, it refers to a journalist (often in a tabloid newspaper) who specializes in scandals and mean gossips about celebrities or famous personalities.
The “Muckraking” Reporting Ushered in Around 1900s
Source = Weebly
Although the literature of reform had already become visible in the mid-19th century, the ‘muckraking’ reporting began appearing around 1900. In 1902, an illustrated monthly periodical McClure’s published the first muckraking article entitled “Tweed Days in St. Louis” that was written by Claude H. Wetmore and Lincoln Steffens.
The January 1903 issue of McClure’s is reckoned to be the official start of muckraking journalism. The very same issue comprised of famous muckraking works like "The Shame of Minneapolis" (Lincoln Steffens), “The History of Standard Oil” (Ida M. Tarbell), and "The Right to Work" (Ray Stannard Baker).
Origin of the Term ‘Muckrakers’
Source = Pinimg
The former President of the United States “Theodore Roosevelt” gave the name ‘muckrakers’ to these investigative journalists. The progressive president adopted the term from John Bunyan’s 1678 allegory Pilgrim’s Progress in which a muck was used to excavate filth and muck. Roosevelt announced a passage from the allegory in his 1906 speech "The Man With the Muck Rake".
While some journalists didn’t like being called muckrakers, some were proud to be called so and went too far especially when writing about political corruption. Later, it was used with reference to investigative journalists who reported/exposed business and government issues provoking citizens' moral outrage.
Muckrakers’ Success Led to Their Disappearance
Source = Blogspot
During the presidential tenure of conservative President William Howard Taft, the influence of muckrakers began fading. The political leaders and corporations successfully silenced the journalists and advertiser boycotting caused the bankruptcy of magazines.
The most important factor behind the disappearance of the muckrakers was their success. The exposes made by them were bringing reforms in the nation’s cities, businesses, politics, and more. And as the issues uncovered by muckrakers were being sorted out, they were no longer needed.
Muckrakers’ Journalism Made a Lasting Impact
Source = Mrsronansclasses
An American investigative journalist Fred J. Cook said that litigation or legislation due to muckraking journalism brought in a long-lasting impact. The major reforms include reorganization of the U.S. Navy, the end of Standard Oil's monopoly over the oil industry, the introduction of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, and the initiation of the first child labor laws in the United States around 1916. The reports and exposes pertaining to bribery and corruption indeed brought reforms at the city and state level and in election results too.
The Modern Muckraking
Source = Wisegeek
The modern term used for “Muckraker” is Investigative Reporter. The theory of muckraking has played a vital role in raising issues of social, corporate, and political prejudices. The hypothesis unveils a major intersection between the press and politics over the two centuries that started in the United States of America.
Today investigative journalism is playing an active role in unearthing the deceitful practices underlying the political system of a country. It helps in the analysis of the malpractices prevailing in the political structure to ensure good governance in the best interest of the people.
When politicians spread rumors, or the political system is on the verge of collapsing due to corruption, then a country relies on the journalists to unfold the truth layer by layer.
Here are some examples of modern-day muckraking that have changed the definition of journalism in American History over the past few centuries.
2013 Edward Snowden Case Regarding NSA’s Secret Surveillance
Source = Ssl-images-amazon
We all know the famous Edward Snowden, a contractor for the US government who had illegally provided the documents to The Guardian and The Washington Post. The leaked documents unveiled the details regarding the American Surveillance methods that how the National Security Agency (NSA) collected the data on American citizens. It disclosed the ways that NSA undertook by keeping a close check on emails, phone records, and instant messaging.
In 2014, The Washington Post was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. The award was for its investigative reporting that accompanied insightful reports for in-depth analysis. The report was for the public to understand the framework of the National Security Agency (NSA).
2005 Secret Authorization for Warrantless Monitoring
Source = Aclu-ky
In 2005, a New York Times story by journalists James Risen and Eric Lichtblau revealed the secret authorization given by the then President of America George W. Bush to the National Security Agency (NSA) for domestic spying without a warrant. NSA was approved to continuously monitor and intercept people’s emails and calls in the United States of America.
However, the publication put the whole investigation on hold after an argument took place in the White House keeping the point that the reporting can put the investigations at risk. So, additional reporting was conducted during that year.
In 2008, Congress revised the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that demanded warrants on the part of phone companies to conduct emergency wiretaps on American citizens. It had put all the phone companies into a legal circumvention and provided legal immunity to those who were a part of the eavesdropping program.
2003 Human Rights Violations at Abu Ghraib
Source = Echo
A report published by journalist Charles Hanley of the Associated Press revealed the inhumane behavior of the US soldiers towards the detainees in the US military prison called Abu Ghraib in Iraq. The detainees gave an account of their stay in prison and how they were abused. It matched with the previous reports that Amnesty International documented. Amnesty International is a human rights organization.
After this, the US Central Command intervened in the case. Consequently, 17 American soldiers were suspended. In April 2004, photos of the abuse were shared. Later, the Washington Post found documents that showed Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez's order to loosen the rules regarding the methods used on detainees which included methods objecting the human rights. International Human Rights Advocacy Organization called the whole encounter a clear violation of the Geneva convention. As a consequence, eleven American soldiers were convicted of the crimes that took place at Abu Ghraib.
Concluding Thoughts
Investigative reporting is a powerful medium to uncover the hidden issues that lie deep inside the whole working system of a country. These underlying issues hinder a nation’s progress and contribute to one of the obvious reasons that a country falls apart. Another name that is popular for Muckraking is Watchdog Journalism. Regardless of the name “Muckraker”, we should admit that it has given a new color to journalism and has made every individual realize the importance of effective journalism in a country.
FAQs
Muckrakers were journalists and novelists of the Progressive Era who sought to expose corruption in big business and government. Their work influenced the passage of key legislation that strengthened protections for workers and consumers.
Who were the muckrakers in the Progressive Era? ›
Muckrakers were a group of writers, including the likes of Upton Sinclair, Lincoln Steffens, and Ida Tarbell, during the Progressive era who tried to expose the problems that existed in American society as a result of the rise of big business, urbanization, and immigration. Most of the muckrakers were journalists.
Who were the muckrakers and what did they accomplish quizlet? ›
Who were the muckrakers and what did they accomplish? The muckrakers were socially conscious journalists and writers. They exposed injustices at all levels of society and their work led to much-needed reforms.
Who were the muckrakers and why was their work so valuable? ›
Ida Tarbell, Upton Sinclair, and Linclon Steffens are three examples of Progressive Era muckrakers. These individuals fought to expose injustices during their careers and their efforts resulted in positive reforms. Tarbell took on John D.
What was a muckraker quizlet? ›
Who were muckrakers? They were journalists (writers for newspapers and magazines) who exposed the dirt, corruption, and ills of American society.
What problems did muckrakers expose and what effects? ›
Muckrakers exposed problems like political corruption, child labor, and safety issues with workers. Their work increased support for progressivism, which, in the long run, helped end child labor, get a shorter workweek, and improve the lives of the poor.
Who started muckraking? ›
Theodore Roosevelt coined the term "muckraker" during a speech in 1906. He compared investigative reporters to the narrow-minded figure in John Bunyan's 17th-century religious fable, "The Pilgrim's Progress": the "man that could look no way but downwards, with a muckrake in his hand."
Which of the following is the best definition of a muckraker? ›
Which of the following is the best definition of a muckraker? an investigative journalist exposing corruption.
Where did muckrakers come from? ›
The term "muckraker" was coined by the progressive president Theodore Roosevelt in his 1906 speech "The Man With the Muck Rake." It referred to a passage in John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" which describes a man who raked muck (soil, dirt, manure, and vegetal matter) for a living rather than raising his eyes to ...
Which subjects did the muckrakers write about? ›
muckraker, any of a group of American writers identified with pre-World War I reform and exposé literature. The muckrakers provided detailed, accurate journalistic accounts of the political and economic corruption and social hardships caused by the power of big business in a rapidly industrializing United States.
Which of the following best describes how muckrakers brought about reform in the Progressive Era? Muckrakers presented Americans with facts about corruption in industry and government that prompted them to demand change.
Which of the following individuals was a muckraker quizlet? ›
Which of the following individuals was a muckraker? Upton Sinclair.
How did muckrakers help the labor movement? ›
The muckrakers played a highly visible role during the Progressive Era. Muckraking magazines—notably McClure's of the publisher S. S. McClure—took on corporate monopolies and political machines, while trying to raise public awareness and anger at urban poverty, unsafe working conditions, prostitution, and child labor.
What were the goals and strategies of muckrakers were they successful? ›
The main goal of the Muckrakers was to raise awareness of social injustices, inequality, corruption and the abuse of political power in order to bring about reform. For additional facts refer to the article detailing Progressive Reforms at city, state and federal levels.
What issues were addressed by the major muckrakers? ›
Progressives and “muckraker” writers attacked city corruption, corporate greed, poor living and working conditions, alcohol, and women's right to vote. Each of these ills saw laws and/or Amendments passed to attempt to better the condition.
What was the main goal for muckrakers? ›
Muckrakers were journalists and novelists of the Progressive Era who sought to expose corruption in big business and government. The work of muckrakers influenced the passage of key legislation that strengthened protections for workers and consumers.
Do muckrakers still exist today? ›
Their fundamental impulse was not to sell papers but to pursue earnest social reform. These are the journalists still known today as muckrakers. Serious exposé journalism, though vastly superior to yellow journalism, suffered from two temptations.
What did muckrakers investigate and report upon? ›
The muckrakers were journalists who investigated and exposed the corruption in politics, business, and society.
What effects did muckrakers have on the society? ›
Influential muckrakers created public awareness of corruption, social injustices and abuses of power. Muckrakers' sensational accounts resulted in public outcry and served as a catalyst for Progressive Era social, economic and political reforms.
Why was the work of the muckrakers so effective in bringing about reform? ›
Why was the work of the work of the muckraker so effective in bringing about reform? Their work was so effective because their sensational account were published widely, and widely read by millions of American.
How did muckrakers contribute to the rise of Progressivism in the early part of the 20th century? Their exposes of government and business corruption, abuse, and mismanagement led to widely supported public demands for effective reform.
When were muckrakers a thing? ›
Muckrakers was a term for the group of people who wrote books and newspaper articles in the United States around 1900. Most of their books were about showing how bad things were in "Gilded Age" in America.
What were the goals of the progressive movement? ›
The progressive movement had four major goals: (1) to protect social welfare, (2) to promote moral improvement, (3) to create economic reform, and (4) to foster efficiency.
Which muckraker wrote about child labor? ›
John Spargo unearthed the horrors of child labor in The Bitter Cry of the Children in 1906. That same year, David Phillips linked 75 senators to big business interests in The Treason of the Senate.
What is a muckraker in your own words? ›
noun. a person who searches for and tries to expose real or alleged corruption, scandal, or other wrongdoing, especially in politics:The original muckrakers were the journalists who exposed child labor, sweatshops, poor living and working conditions, and government inefficiency in the early 20th century.
How do you use muckraker in a sentence? ›
He made a name for himself as a celebrity muckraker in this relatively quiet little city. Muckrakers aren't likely to dredge secrets from his past.
What is a synonym for muckraker? ›
In this page you can discover 5 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for muckraker, like: exposer, scandalbearer, meddler, mudslinger and gossip.
Why did Roosevelt call them muckrakers? ›
Roosevelt disapproved of journalists whom he considered to be so overly focused on the bad that they failed to notice and report on the good. He borrowed the term “muck rake” from the well-known didactic novel, Pilgrim's Progress, written in the late seventeenth century by John Bunyan.
How was muckraking related to yellow journalism? ›
The investigative techniques of the muckrakers included poring over documents, conducting countless interviews, and going undercover. This differed from yellow journalism, where some leading newspapers sensationalized stories using imagination rather than facts.
How did journalists help spread progressivism? ›
What role did journalists and other writers play in progressive movement? Wrote sensational reports on a variety of serious problems facing the US. Their works were widely published, and widely read, and they motivated people to make reforms.
The Role of the Muckrakers
A large part of the progressive movement was spurred on by muckraking journalists. Muckrakers were known for investigative journalism that exposed the serious deficiencies of America's food and drug industries.
How did Progressives try to improve education? ›
How did Progressives try to improve education? States passed laws requiring all children to attend school. Kindergarten was started to help young children learn basic social skills.
Is muckraking an effective tool to reform American politics and society? ›
Is muckraking an effective tool to reform American politics and society? yes because it showed the public pictures of most americans living situations, because of this people started building settlement houses (Jane Addams).
Which of the following describe how muckrakers helped shape the Progressive Era? ›
Which of the following describe how the muckrakers contributed to the progressive movement? Muckrakers educated the public about the problems society faced.
What were 3 reforms of the Progressive Era? ›
Using the language of municipal housekeeping women were able to push such reforms as prohibition, women's suffrage, child-saving, and public health.
Why was the Progressive Era successful? ›
The Progressive Era started a reform tradition that has since been present in American society. Monopolies were broken up due to violation of federal law. Many labor unions, trade groups, and professional, civic, and religious associations were founded. They improved the lives of individuals and communities.
Who were some of the most well known muckrakers? ›
Muckrakers were a group of writers, including the likes of Upton Sinclair, Lincoln Steffens, and Ida Tarbell, during the Progressive era who tried to expose the problems that existed in American society as a result of the rise of big business, urbanization, and immigration.
Who were the muckrakers and what did they do quizlet? ›
Who were muckrakers? They were journalists (writers for newspapers and magazines) who exposed the dirt, corruption, and ills of American society. He exposed factory conditions. She exposed Standard Oil's illegal practices.
Which muckraker would have most likely been found taking pictures in tenement buildings and what was the name of his book? ›
Jacob Riis was an American newspaper reporter, social reformer, and photographer. With his book How the Other Half Lives (1890), he shocked the conscience of his readers with factual descriptions of slum conditions in New York City.
How did muckrakers contribute to the rise of progressivism in the early 20th century? ›
How did muckrakers contribute to the rise of Progressivism in the early part of the 20th century? Their exposes of government and business corruption, abuse, and mismanagement led to widely supported public demands for effective reform.
A muckraker was any of a group of American writers identified with pre-World War I reform and exposé writing. The muckrakers provided detailed, accurate journalistic accounts of the political and economic corruption and social hardships caused by the power of big business in a rapidly industrializing United States.
How did the role of journalism change during the Progressive Era? ›
In summary, during the Progressive Era, which lasted from around 1900 to 1917, muckraking journalists successfully exposed America's problems brought on by rapid industrialization and growth of cities. Influential muckrakers created public awareness of corruption, social injustices and abuses of power.
Why was the work of the muckrakers so effective in bringing about reform? ›
Why was the work of the work of the muckraker so effective in bringing about reform? Their work was so effective because their sensational account were published widely, and widely read by millions of American.
How did the muckrakers help prepare the way for progressivism? ›
How did the muckrakers help prepare the way for Progressivism? They directed public attention toward social, economic, and political injustices. What contribution did the "Social Gospel" movement make to Progressivism? Chiefly concerned with redeeming the nation's cities.
What was the primary goal of the Progressive Era muckrakers? ›
The muckrakers were reform-minded journalists, writers, and photographers in the Progressive Era in the United States (1890s–1920s) who claimed to expose corruption and wrongdoing in established institutions, often through sensationalist publications.
Which statement best describes the role of muckrakers? ›
Which statement best describes the role of muckrakers? They exposed corrupt business and political practices.
Where did muckrakers come from? ›
The term "muckraker" was coined by the progressive president Theodore Roosevelt in his 1906 speech "The Man With the Muck Rake." It referred to a passage in John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" which describes a man who raked muck (soil, dirt, manure, and vegetal matter) for a living rather than raising his eyes to ...
What were the goals and strategies of muckrakers were they successful? ›
The main goal of the Muckrakers was to raise awareness of social injustices, inequality, corruption and the abuse of political power in order to bring about reform. For additional facts refer to the article detailing Progressive Reforms at city, state and federal levels.
What issues were addressed by the major muckrakers? ›
Progressives and “muckraker” writers attacked city corruption, corporate greed, poor living and working conditions, alcohol, and women's right to vote. Each of these ills saw laws and/or Amendments passed to attempt to better the condition.
Was the progressive movement successful? ›
They improved the lives of individuals and communities. Regulations that progressive groups helped to enact still shape government and commerce today, including food safety requirements, child labor laws, and the normalization of the eight-hour workday.
During this time, known as the Progressive Era, the movement's goals involved strengthening the national government and addressing people's economic, social, and political demands.
How did the Progressive Era change America? ›
Progressives were interested in establishing a more transparent and accountable government which would work to improve U.S. society. These reformers favored such policies as civil service reform, food safety laws, and increased political rights for women and U.S. workers.
Do muckrakers still exist today? ›
Their fundamental impulse was not to sell papers but to pursue earnest social reform. These are the journalists still known today as muckrakers. Serious exposé journalism, though vastly superior to yellow journalism, suffered from two temptations.
What were 3 reforms of the Progressive Era? ›
Using the language of municipal housekeeping women were able to push such reforms as prohibition, women's suffrage, child-saving, and public health.
What role did muckrakers play in passing the Pure Food and Drug Act 1906? ›
The Role of the Muckrakers
A large part of the progressive movement was spurred on by muckraking journalists. Muckrakers were known for investigative journalism that exposed the serious deficiencies of America's food and drug industries.
