21st Century Muckrakers

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.

Another example of a prominent muckraker was Ida Tarbell. Much of her work focused on the practices of the Standard Oil Company. Finally, Jacob Riis was a very important muckraker. He used his pen and his camera to show the realities of many people who lived in America.

• Watchdogging Public Corruption: A Newspaper Unearths Patterns of Costly Abuse.
• Rotting Meat, Security Documents, and Corporal Punishment.
• Reporting Time and Resources Reveal a Hidden Source of Pollution.
• Navigating Through the Biofuels Jungle.

Who were muckrakers? They were journalists (writers for newspapers and magazines) who exposed the dirt, corruption, and ills of American society.

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.

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.

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.

Muckraking Is Alive and Well.

Television and the Internet make good use of yellow journalism by running sensationalized headlines typed in big, vivid fonts, consisting of news that is less than well-researched. But the best example of yellow journalism can be found today in social media venues such as Twitter or Facebook.

Muckraking for the 21st Century

• Ida M.
• Lincoln Steffens, who wrote on corrupt city and state politics in The Shame of the Cities;
• Upton Sinclair, whose book The Jungle, led to passage of the Meat Inspection Act; and.

The term “muckraker” was popularized in 1906, when Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech suggesting that “the men with the muck rakes are often indispensable to the well being of society; but only if they know when to stop raking the muck . . .” 4start superscript, 4, end superscript In this context, “raking the muck” …

If someone calls you a muckraker and you are unclear as to whether it is intended as a compliment we recommend you examine your rake to see what kind of muck is on it. If you’re proud of it then you may wear muckraker with pride, and if not, well, you can also come back with nipcheese.

It is an honor to be called a muckraker because it is an honor to serve society with stories of truth and serve justice to the evasive people of power. It is extremely important for the people of this nation to be informed, and the “muckrakers” make that happen.

Muckraker. A term for a journalist or other person who exposes corruption, especially in business or politics. The term has had both positive and negative connotations throughout its history. In the positive sense, muckrakers are thought to champion truth by exposing corruption.

A pejorative or slur is a word or grammatical form expressing a negative or a disrespectful connotation, a low opinion, or a lack of respect toward someone or something. It is also used to express criticism, hostility, or disregard.

The first amendment providing them freedom of press and freedom of speech.

Theodore Roosevelt

The Progressive Era (1896–1916) was a period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States of America that spanned the 1890s to the 1920s. Social reformers were primarily middle-class citizens who targeted political machines and their bosses.

1897 – 1920

The term muckraker was used in the Progressive Era to characterize reform-minded American journalists who wrote largely for all popular magazines. 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.

Early 20th century muckraking

• Ray Stannard Baker.
• Lincoln Steffens.
• Ida M Tarbell.
• Upton Sinclair.
• Will Irwin.
• David Graham Phillips.
• Jacob Riis.
• Charles Edward Russell.

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.

Some of the most famous muckrakers were women, including Ida Tarbell and Ida B. Wells.

Top 10 Famous Muckrakers

• Lincoln Steffens.
• Ralph Nader.
• Seymour Hersh.
• Upton Sinclair.
• Gary Webb.
• Rachel Carson.
• Woodward and Bernstein. Carl Bernstein, left, and Robert Woodward, who pressed the Watergate investigation, in Washington, D.C., May 7, 1973.
• Edward R. Murrow.

Answer: The answer is John Spargo. Explanation: John Spargo was one of several muckrakers during that era. He is considered to be one of the more influential journalists because of the reporting and writing on child labor in coal mines.

The muckrakers played a pivotal role in initiating the Progressive Era, because they spurred everyday Americans to action. Unlike earlier sensationalist journalists, the muckrakers told their stories with the explicit goal of galvanizing their readers and encouraging them to take steps to address the issues.

Students learn about the four goals of progressivism: protect social welfare, promote moral improvement, create economic reform, and foster efficiency.

The progressive movement began in response to the economic and social problems of a rapidly industrialized America. Though it started as a social movement, it grew to affect every major area of our culture, including education. You just studied 13 terms!