The Muckrakers became known for their investigative journalism and evolved from the era of “personal journalism” – a term used by historians Emery and Emery in The Press and America (6th edition) to describe 19th-century newspapers run by strong leaders with editorial voices (p. 173) – and yellow journalism. Lincoln Steffens, Ray Stannard Baker, and Ida M. Tarbell were considered the first Muckrakers when they wrote articles on local government, labor, and trusts in the January 1903 issue of McClure`s Magazine. The trend towards muckraking writing arose from the yellow journalism of the 1890s, which whetted the public`s appetite for news presented in captivating ways, and from popular magazines, especially those founded by SS McClure, Frank A. Munsey, and Peter F. Collier. Many of Muckrakers` other works brought to light a variety of themes in America during the Progressive Era. [29] These authors have focused on a wide range of topics, including Standard Oil`s monopoly; cattle processing and meat packaging; patented medicines; Child labour; and wages, labour and working conditions in industry and agriculture. In a number of cases, the revelations of Muckraking journalists have provoked public outcry, judicial and state investigations and, in some cases, laws have been enacted to address problems identified by the perpetrators, such as harmful social conditions; Pollution; food and product safety standards; sexual harassment; unfair labour practices; Fraud; and other issues. The work of the Muckrakers in the early years and today encompasses a wide range of legal, social, ethical and political concerns. For three years, he was in the most sensational of New York dailies the star man, Chief Muckraker, the chief detective.
Probably the most famous Muckrakers in American history are Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein for their work in exposing corruption in the Nixon administration. According to Fred J. Cook, Muckrakers journalism led to litigation or laws that had lasting effects, such as the end of Standard Oil`s monopoly on the oil industry, the introduction of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, the creation of the first child labor laws in the United States around 1916. Their reports revealed bribery and corruption at the city and state levels, as well as in Congress, which led to reforms and changes in election results. The Muckrakers` work emerged from the yellow journalism of the 1890s, which whetted the public`s appetite for news presented in captivating ways, and from popular magazines, especially those founded by S.S. McClure, Frank A. Munsey, and Peter F. Collier.
Muckraking`s emergence was heralded in the January 1903 issue of McClure`s Magazine with articles on government, labor, and trusts written by Lincoln Steffens, Ray Stannard Baker, and Ida M. Tarbell. The Muckrakers played a very visible role during the progressive era. [1] Muckraking magazines – notably McClures by editor S. S. McClure – attacked corporate monopolies and political machines as they sought to raise public awareness and anger against urban poverty, unsafe working conditions, prostitution and child labor. [2] Most Muckrakers wrote non-fiction books, but fiction presentations also often had a great influence, such as those of Upton Sinclair. [3] The term “Muckraker” became popular after President Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech in 196 criticizing so-called Muckraking journalists for what he saw as their persistent negative view. Roosevelt, himself known for his “destruction of trust” and his attacks on powerful corporations, lamented that progressive journalists had gone too far. He borrowed his terminology from writer John Bunyan, whose Pilgrim`s Progress depicts a man with a “dirty rake” looking at the earth forever. Roosevelt said: Some today use “investigative journalism” as a synonym for muckraking.
Carey McWilliams, the nation`s editor-in-chief, assumed in 1970 that investigative journalism and reform journalism, or muckraking, were the same type of journalism. [34] Journalism textbooks point out that McClure`s muckraking standards “have become an integral part of the character of modern investigative journalism.” [35] In addition, the successes of the early Muckrakers continued to inspire journalists. [36] [37] Moreover, Muckraking has become an integral part of journalism in American history. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein revealed how the Nixon administration worked in Watergate, which led to Nixon`s resignation. More recently, Edward Snowden exposed state espionage activities, albeit illegally, telling the public the extent of their privacy violations. Unlike Mitford, Doughty didn`t approach the company like a professional muckraker. A Muckraker spreads scandals, mainly for political purposes. Being a Muckraker is considered fat. muckraker, one of a group of American writers who identified with reform and exhibition literature before World War I.
The Muckrakers provided detailed and accurate journalistic accounts of the political and economic corruption and social hardship caused by the power of big business in the rapidly industrializing United States. The name Muckraker was pejorative when used by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in his speech of April 14, 1906; It borrows a passage from John Bunyan`s The Pilgrim`s Progress, which refers to “the man with the muckrake … who could only look down. But muckraker also took on favorable connotations of social concern and bold representation. Crap can mean feces or dirt, and a rake could distribute it. Similarly, a muckraker spreads in a different way around something dirty: news about real or fake scandals. Muckrakers are something like gossip, but they are more public. Many politicians are when they talk about their opponents. Newspapers can also be bad rippers when they spread the news of scandals, especially those that are difficult to prove. Muckraking means pretty much the same as fighting in the mud. Most of these journalists hated being called Muckrakers.
They felt betrayed that Roosevelt described them with such a term after helping him in his election. Muckraker David Graham Philips believed that Muckraker`s label had brought about the end of the movement because it was easier to group and attack journalists. [25] One of the biggest urban scandals of the post-Civil War era was the corruption and bribery case of Chief Tammany William M.