Although journalism could never recover from the stains of yellow journalism, it was able to elevate it's status as muckraking journalist essentially changed the history of America for the better. As Rodger Streitmatter put it in Mightier than the Sword, muckraking became "The Golden Age of Reform Journalism." During the second half of the nineteenth century, America's priorities became lost as she raced to expansion to be the nation of the future. However while production, export, politics, and corporations soared the nation's laissez-faire policies neglected the core American values of equality. The industrialist and investors thrived successfully, while the common man and immigrants struggled to survive becoming stagnant in their poverty state.
President Theodore Rosevelt, a supporter of reform journalists accidentally coined the term "muckracking," when he described the journalists at times always looked for the negative aspects of the society. So came the age of muckraking journalism that was much needed for the nation to wake up to see the atrocities that were happening. Using expose pieces with detail writing the reporters motivated political, social, and industrial change. Some of the fine iconic journalist rose from this period helping the nation find the truth. Lincoln Steffens, known as the first muckraker boldly attacked municipal corruption that lead to creating standards for recruiting experienced professional administrators. The muckrakers went on to divulge many privatie industry monopolies (Standard Oil and Rockefeller hold) and corruption. The journalists went on to rouse the public of the poor quality of food and drugs. Upton Sinclair's famous series, "The Jungle," contained shocking revelations that would push the public to the edge about poor food quality and working conditions. Other muckraking campaigns against drugs awakened the public of the patent medicine that were laced with morphine creating a nation of addicts. One of the biggest feat the muckrakers achieved was exposing "Treason in the U.S Senate," that eventually led to the wiping out of corrupt senators and putting the power in the citizens hand to elect their senators.
President Theodore Rosevelt, a supporter of reform journalists accidentally coined the term "muckracking," when he described the journalists at times always looked for the negative aspects of the society. So came the age of muckraking journalism that was much needed for the nation to wake up to see the atrocities that were happening. Using expose pieces with detail writing the reporters motivated political, social, and industrial change. Some of the fine iconic journalist rose from this period helping the nation find the truth. Lincoln Steffens, known as the first muckraker boldly attacked municipal corruption that lead to creating standards for recruiting experienced professional administrators. The muckrakers went on to divulge many privatie industry monopolies (Standard Oil and Rockefeller hold) and corruption. The journalists went on to rouse the public of the poor quality of food and drugs. Upton Sinclair's famous series, "The Jungle," contained shocking revelations that would push the public to the edge about poor food quality and working conditions. Other muckraking campaigns against drugs awakened the public of the patent medicine that were laced with morphine creating a nation of addicts. One of the biggest feat the muckrakers achieved was exposing "Treason in the U.S Senate," that eventually led to the wiping out of corrupt senators and putting the power in the citizens hand to elect their senators.
When corruptions and negligence was sadly prominent around the nation, muckraking journalism served our American history extraordinarily as they enlightened to reform. This period of journalism is an inspiration to the power words and people hold to inevitably create a better future for ourselves. Journalist of today should remember this empowering period of time to not be afraid to reveal the flaws of today's society to get to the truth.
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