Essay On Muckraking

Muckrakers are American journalists who work to expose social and political problems in society. The ideas of these individuals circulate in newspapers and in magazines, creating a large impact on the public. I have interviewed individuals about problems in today’s society and have visited areas where these problems are best seen. As a muckraker myself, I plan on exposing the truths of these issues so hopefully these problems can be resolved.

Although many people may like to think of America as a honest and moral nation, it is no secret that artifice has cemented itself as an indispensable skill, exploited by many to achieve their own ambitions. Artifice, characterized through the usage of cunning devices or expedients to deceive others, is often utilized by politicians and organizations to help push their own agendas. As illustrated by Chris Hedges in his social commentary, Empire of Illusion, “artifice” has emerged to become so ubiquitous and essential throughout American society, whether in business or the entertainment industry. Essential, in the essence that without it, people in any industry are more likely to be disadvantaged in achieving their personal goals. In today’s modern world, no area has seen more abuse of artifice than in the field of media and politics. Its common knowledge that newspapers skew reports to their own biases and politicians often tell half-truths to cover-up ulterior motives. Unfortunately, these politicians and media giants hold extremely influential positions in society, and their usage of artifice is extremely damaging to the integrity and accountability within the United States. As a result, the press as well as the general populace must utilize free speech to expose this behavior. Despite the complete immorality of the usage of artifice, such chicanery remains essential for success in media and politics.

Having served nearly thirty years at CBS News, Mr. Goldberg had earned a reputation as one of the most original writers and thinkers in broadcast journalism. However, when he observed his own industry, he realized the liberal media had completely missed their mission to give honest news. After years of sharing his observations and promoting more balanced reportings, Goldberg soon realized that no one listened because they believed they were doing the right thing. The liberal bias continued, therefore Bernard Goldberg decided to take the situation into his own hands and expose the distortion of the media himself. Goldberg’s breathtaking and shocking best seller book, Bias, reveals the close-mindedness of the news culture and their mission to entertain rather than share facts.

As society advances and the opinions of the general public change several press outlets work to stay up to date with the changing times. However, in an attempt to stay modernized journalists often times sacrifice their integrity to stay favorable in the public eye. These degrading actions, often times sacrifice the true news for more appealing news. Clare Boothe Luce, American journalist and politician, gives a controversial speech to the Women’s National Press Club condemning her female audience. Moreover, as a female addressing an audience of women she is able to give her true opinion and is able to honestly critique her colleagues. She persuades her audience by preparing them for the criticism by reiterating that she is the guest, by praising journalism, and by logically providing reasoning that the journalistic view must change for the good of the general public.

What does muckraking mean? Muckrakers is known to be “ the action of searching out and publicising scandalous information about famous people in a underhanded way. The muckrakers were a group of journalists from the 1890s to the 1920s who turned American society upside down by exposing corruption and informing readers about important social issues.

With the recent explosion of social media, many rely heavily, often excessively, on the internet for their news about the world. While being bombarded with fabricated stories and corrupted facts, the public struggles to find the actual truth, creating an entirely new realm of responsibility for journalists. They are forced to delve deeper than ever before, beyond comfort, in order to superficially scratch the surface of truth. This practice of exploitation and rooted research was coined “muckraking” by Theodore Roosevelt during a speech in 1906. While this term had carried a negative connotation for decades, Jessica Mitford, the late investigative journalist, transformed that perspective and graciously accepted the title “Queen of the Muckrakers”. Mitford was correct in her prideful title, as muckrakers have fulfilled a valuable role in the creation of policy over time, as well as acting as an integral component in modern day media, full of deception and bias.

Coined by United States President Theodore Roosevelt, muckrakers are individuals who uncover heinous misconduct, bringing unknown scandals into the limelight with riveting exposés and meticulous investigative journalism. Muckrakers play a vital role in holding powerful institutions accountable, exposing deceitful practices that spark public outrage that catalyze momentous reforms. However, muckraking often leads muckrakers too deep down rabbit holes; hence, those deeply entrenched in conspiracy suffer from mental health crises and perpetual threats against their lives from the corrupt institutions they seek to expose. Nevertheless, muckrakers should be heralded honorably for their selflessness and commitment to the truth. Throughout the Gilded

Muckrakers are journalists who expose corruption and conditions of certain working environments. Muckrakers had and still have an important impact on society. They have affected people for the better and for their own good. Two important muckrakers who succeeded was Upton Sinclair and Dave Savini. They both found out the bizarre conditions of meat and food.Without them people would be in danger.

“Have you ever seen a fast-food ad that shows the factories where French fries are made? Ever seen a fast-food ad that shows the slaughterhouses where cattle are turned into ground beef? Ever seen an ad that tells you what’s really in your fast-food milkshake and why some strange-sounding chemicals make it taste so good? Ever seen an ad that shows overweight, unhealthy kids stuffing their faces with greasy fries at a fast-food restaurant? You probably haven’t. But you’ve probably seen a lot of fast-food commercials that show thin, happy children having a lot of fun.” (Schlosser et al). The book Chew on This explains and reveals almost everything to know about fast food and the process of making it. Each chapter is different. First there is the background of fast food restaurants, and then they get into the juice about the food itself. This book is a huge example of modern day muckraking. Muckraking is when a writer or publisher reveals scandalous information about people

There has to be some that went against or even questioned the material; that they had laid out for the public to view. Beyond a shadow of a doubt the readers and onlookers discussed all that had been written in their everyday conversations. There were things that had been covered up for so long by so many until all the light that was shed on these situations caused for there to be some action taken. Many corporations developed and implemented guidelines that were to be followed in order to ease the minds and hearts of the public. Are there any modern day muckrakers?

One main conflict, that ties to multiple conflicts during the Progressive Movement, across the U.S is the conflict caused by the "grave evils" of political machines that make the lives of all people during this age, extremely difficult. Sadly, this is because the laws of the country have not kept up with the change of circumstances in this country. Because of the lack of government regulation, reflecting Laissez-faire, unethical and abusive practices occurred during the Gilded Age, then continued onto the Progressive movement. "Politics in America is in a case which sadly requires attention. The system set up by our law and our usage doesn't work or at least, it can't be depended upon." The government was designed for the people to have a say

Coined “mudrakers” by President Theodore Roosevelt, journalists wrote investigative articles exposing social, economic and political scandals. The writers detailed the many horrors of poverty, urban slums, dangerous factory conditions, and even child labor. No one was safe from the “mudrakers”, their articles took aim at the food and insurance industries, prostitution and political bribery and corruption. All which satisfied the American public’s appetite for scandal. Not unlike the sensationalism used by media today to help influence public

The media has been adversely affected by the explosion of information sources. It has become a tedious and cumbersome endeavor to accurately locate information sources that can stand to even the slightest bit of scrutinizing. For those who attempt to report the truth, they continue to find it

In the Progressive Era, influential journalists wanted to expose the government and big business of their flaws to American citizens with using factual and proven evidence against them. Muckrakers, who are journalists that seek out the truth of corruption among the government and business leaders, became well known due to how many people were amazed by the revealed injustices and dishonesty in the

Consequently, the political sphere is now being colonised by the media, and politics has begun re-orientating itself to satisfy the logic of media organisations (Meyer, 2002, p. 71). Therefore, the media are active participants in the policymaking process and the ability to stimulate change or maintain the status quo depends on their choice of subject or policy issue and how they frame it. Active investigative reporting attempts to shape policy outcomes, but this does not necessarily mean that it always represents the most successful approach for gaining policy changes (Spitzer, 1993, p. 7). In fact, sometimes passive, straight reporting can have a greater influence on policy choices. When this occurs, media independence is largely bypassed, as the news generated depends solely on the information released (as public relations material) from legitimate news sources. For example, in the United States, White House staff routinely make ‘leaks’ - expressively to influence policy decisions (Davis, 1992, p. 143; Robinson, 2001, p. 948). Robinson noted that journalists regard “leaks… as indispensable to their work” and that they are aware of their use by officials in return for scoops (2001, p. 949).