Muckrakers

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at historic and modern examples of how muckraking has spurred important social changes in American history. The later part of the paper also looks at modern examples of muckraking, based on modern issues and using modern technology. Given their importance in challenging the status quo, this paper argues that muckraking techniques are an intrinsic part of journalism and form an important foundation of American democracy.

From the Paper:

"For many advocates of investigate journalism, the original motivations for what came to be termed as muckraking were rooted in spiritual values. Journalism professor Robert Miraldi (2000) believes that at the start of the 20th century, the original investigative reporters believed that many religious institutions were condoning injustice. Journalists exposed how most of the tenements and slums in New York City were actually owned by churches. These investigative reports generated an outcry that forced the churches to clean the tenements and improve the living conditions."

More papers on Muckrakers:

• Comparison Essay # 41711 : "The Muckraker in the Progressive Era"
• Article Review # 34056 : "Muckraking: Three Landmark Articles"
• Essay # 66342 : "Ida Tarbell"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: