Muckraking Essay

News organizations that report on stories in a fair, balanced and ethical manner are essential to the functionality of this nation. A citizen’s ability to make well-informed decisions hinges on a news organization’s ability to relay the most accurate information regarding the state of the nation, the changing condition of communities, and adjustments in the government. Journalism is no longer a one-sided conversation. Journalism is an interactive process that allows for readers and viewers to create a dialogue with journalists by utilizing mediums such as social networking sites and comment sections. Audiences have a say in what stories get reported and how news stories are presented to the masses. When news organizations fail to cover all

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.

“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

According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary a muckraker is someone who “searches out and publicly exposes real or apparent misconduct of a prominent individual or business” (“Muckraker”). During the 1890s to the 1920s, muckrakers were a group of American journalists who exposed the corruption in society and informed the public about important social issues. The term muckraker originally came around when President Roosevelt gave a speech about reporters who exposed political and corporate corruption ("Who Are the Muckrakers?”). There have been so many muckrakers in American history whose works have been the cause of new laws and changes; some of the most important and famous of these muckrakers were Upton Sinclair, Samuel Hopkins Adams, and Jacob Riis.

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.

Muckrakers came to the U.S. journalism scene around the turn of the nineteenth century. As crusaders for social change, muckraking journalists wrote articles not about news events, but about injustices or abuses, and corruption in the world of business and politics. Their aim was to bring such information to the attention of the U.S. public. The muckrakers played a significant historical role, largely because late nineteenth-century most people read.

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.

“Journal articles instructed readers on how to act, how to consume, and how to eat” (Barkan 20). Muckraker journalism was made to showcase the negative sides of society that may have not been exposed to readers directly. These journalists played a tremendous role in presenting major problems to the public, in turn also to Congress. Once the muckrakers caught on to what these industries were doing they investigated and gave all the information on what was going on behind the scenes.

Though America entered the 20th century with unbridled confidence and optimism, many of its citizens were not as enthusiastic. Working long hours in frightful conditions for little pay, they were exploited by the massive industrial trusts that powered the economy. They had no voice until a group of fearless journalists, the muckrakers, took up their cause. The impact of the muckrakers’ earned them a nickname and helped start the Progressive Era in the United States.muckraker was used in the Progressive Era to characterize reform-minded American journalists who attacked established institutions and leaders as corrupt. They typically had large audiences in some popular magazines. The modern term is investigative journalism, and investigative journalists today are Just as the muckrakers became well known for their crusades,

Being labeled a muckraker is a label I would not mind having. Without muckrakers how would we find out the whole truth about individuals and businesses, not just the stuff they tell us. Muckrakers find out information that is needed to be made public, but for whatever reason, is not told to the public. I support Mitford’s view that it is an honor to be called a muckraker.

To fully understand we much focus on these three aspects of the issue. Above all, it is the media's job to publish what is true. It is its job to give the audience news and that of truthful news. The most serious concern with the media is that what they reveal to the audience must be true because as a society we are greatly influenced by what we read, hear, and see through the press. This is why libel is more serious than privacy issues. Publishing false or inaccurate information directly is the biggest, and most devastating thing a journalist or media can do. That is the

Many news and magazines use the freedom to share information that goes with their beliefs and values, I also think that in some cases that what or who are being written about could have an effect on how truthful what is being shared is. I agree that it should not be accepted or allowed to have false information shared, media is supposed to inform the public about the truth if what is happening.

Nowadays journalists have the responsibility to report facts as accurately, objectively, and disinterestedly as is humanly possible. ‘’The, honest, self-disciplined, well-trained reporter seeks to be a propagandist for nothing but the truth’’ (Casey, 1944b).

The freedom of expression is granted unconditionally on the grounds that it is used to do moral good, and placing the needs of a few politicians over the general public is not morally good (Patterson & Wilkins, 2014, p. 38). Bending the truth to benefit the campaign or image of a public figure is deceiving the public regardless of the information being withheld. Citizen journalism heavily influence quote approval since many politicians have misspoke when speaking “off the cuff” with citizens and damaged their public image. Quote approval is used to assure that these situations do not occur and hurt polling numbers, but quote approval could be considered to be breaking the ethical news values of accuracy and community (Patterson & Wilkins, 2014, pp. 35-36).

In today’s age, anyone can be a reporter. Traditional media is where news has been shared by trained journalists for decades, however, citizen journalism has skyrocketed in recent years with the growth of the Internet. These citizen journalists have no professional training in journalism collecting and news distribution (Netzley). Citizen journalists are collecting, reporting, analyzing, and disseminating news without any formal training but provides independent, relevant information (Barnes). Traditional media outlets are not being outdone by citizen journalism in today’s society, but their platform is growing rapidly. The ethics of citizen journalism is not growing at the same rate as its platform and relevance in today’s world.