Muckraker to Mole
An Analysis of Investigative Journalist’s Role Throughout History –
What is was, currently is and might be
Introduction: This paper explores the development of investigative journalism from its early 20th-century beginnings of ‘muckraking, ' to its current function in today’s society. First examined is the history behind investigative journalism, detailing the original obligations of reporters such as Upton Sinclair and Seymour Hersh. Regardless of the name muckraker, devised by President Theodore Roosevelt, the many successes of investigative reporters are also mentioned. Discussed next are the government restrictions such as prior restraint, the Espionage Act of 1917, judicial proceedings, privacy and defamation laws that have significantly affected, for better or worse, how journalists report the news. Evidential support provided by court cases like New York Times v. the United States, help explain why such shifts in journalistic responsibilities occur and what precedent they have set for future First Amendment cases. Lastly, identified are the current obligations of investigative journalism, changing form from print publications to online news. Important questions to consider are the underlying factors behind the role of investigative journalists from the past to present, how the various boundaries of the freedom of speech both limit and set free the abilities of reporters and what citizens can expect in the future. History & Major Feats: Roughly a century ago, ‘muckraking,’ more than any time before had made great strides. Coined by President Theodore Roosevelt, a muckraker was someone “with the muck-rake in his hands; who was offered a celestial crown for his muck- rake, but who could neither look up nor regard the crown he was offered, but continued to rake to himself the filth of the floor.” Also known as investigative reporting of the early 20th century, muckrakers have challenged abusive power mainly by corporations and the government. Mark Feldstein, an associate professor and director of the journalism program at George Washington University, says that investigative journalists are more like reformers, both seeking and reporting the shortcomings of American society. As industrialization began to take from, major developments like the transcontinental railroad triggered societal advancement and change. Now that the demand for marketing and advertising reached nationwide, newspapers were able to increase their circulation ten-fold. It was the print publications that would lead to the success of muckrakers and their craft. Ushering the way for investigative reporting and public service was Ida Tarbell and Upton Sinclair. Tarbell, from 1902-1903, wrote a series of articles in McClure’s Magazine exposing, corruption and a violation of the Sherman Anti-trust Act by J.D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company. Sinclair, in 1906, went undercover for seven weeks to eventually expose the unsanitary practices and immigrant abuse in Chicago’s meatpacking plants. “The muckrakers targeted corporate wrongdoing, government misbehavior, and social injustice; they viewed all three as interconnected to each other and to systemic problems spawned by the U.S. Industrial Revolution.” From World War I to the late 1960’s, investigative journalism came to a slow crawl. Attention by both journalists and the public were focused overseas, unfortunately leading to less coverage of national matters. It wasn’t until the Vietnam War when a new form of muckraking began, challenging the Civil Rights Movement, the War and political …show more content…
To this day, muckraking holds the same meaning but has taken different forms throughout history. In the beginning, muckrakers were radical and passionate about communicating moral justice within society, exposing just about anything. The second wave of investigative journalism covered more political corruption than corporate wrongdoings. Finally, “in the last years of the muckrakers, irresponsible scandal coverage overshadowed substantive public service journalism,” leading to question, what it responsible for this …show more content…
In one of the first court cases to challenge the freedom of speech, Abrams v. United States, 250 U.S. 616 (1919) set precedent for not only citizens speech but eventually journalism during a time of war. The defendants of this case, one being Jacob Abrams, were found guilty of violating the Espionage Act of 1917, for distributing flyers in support of Russian government. The act made it a criminal offense to obtain information of national defense and communicating them to the enemy. Justice John Hessin Clarke gave the majority opinion of the
An Analysis of Investigative Journalist’s Role Throughout History –
What is was, currently is and might be
Introduction: This paper explores the development of investigative journalism from its early 20th-century beginnings of ‘muckraking, ' to its current function in today’s society. First examined is the history behind investigative journalism, detailing the original obligations of reporters such as Upton Sinclair and Seymour Hersh. Regardless of the name muckraker, devised by President Theodore Roosevelt, the many successes of investigative reporters are also mentioned. Discussed next are the government restrictions such as prior restraint, the Espionage Act of 1917, judicial proceedings, privacy and defamation laws that have significantly affected, for better or worse, how journalists report the news. Evidential support provided by court cases like New York Times v. the United States, help explain why such shifts in journalistic responsibilities occur and what precedent they have set for future First Amendment cases. Lastly, identified are the current obligations of investigative journalism, changing form from print publications to online news. Important questions to consider are the underlying factors behind the role of investigative journalists from the past to present, how the various boundaries of the freedom of speech both limit and set free the abilities of reporters and what citizens can expect in the future. History & Major Feats: Roughly a century ago, ‘muckraking,’ more than any time before had made great strides. Coined by President Theodore Roosevelt, a muckraker was someone “with the muck-rake in his hands; who was offered a celestial crown for his muck- rake, but who could neither look up nor regard the crown he was offered, but continued to rake to himself the filth of the floor.” Also known as investigative reporting of the early 20th century, muckrakers have challenged abusive power mainly by corporations and the government. Mark Feldstein, an associate professor and director of the journalism program at George Washington University, says that investigative journalists are more like reformers, both seeking and reporting the shortcomings of American society. As industrialization began to take from, major developments like the transcontinental railroad triggered societal advancement and change. Now that the demand for marketing and advertising reached nationwide, newspapers were able to increase their circulation ten-fold. It was the print publications that would lead to the success of muckrakers and their craft. Ushering the way for investigative reporting and public service was Ida Tarbell and Upton Sinclair. Tarbell, from 1902-1903, wrote a series of articles in McClure’s Magazine exposing, corruption and a violation of the Sherman Anti-trust Act by J.D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company. Sinclair, in 1906, went undercover for seven weeks to eventually expose the unsanitary practices and immigrant abuse in Chicago’s meatpacking plants. “The muckrakers targeted corporate wrongdoing, government misbehavior, and social injustice; they viewed all three as interconnected to each other and to systemic problems spawned by the U.S. Industrial Revolution.” From World War I to the late 1960’s, investigative journalism came to a slow crawl. Attention by both journalists and the public were focused overseas, unfortunately leading to less coverage of national matters. It wasn’t until the Vietnam War when a new form of muckraking began, challenging the Civil Rights Movement, the War and political …show more content…
To this day, muckraking holds the same meaning but has taken different forms throughout history. In the beginning, muckrakers were radical and passionate about communicating moral justice within society, exposing just about anything. The second wave of investigative journalism covered more political corruption than corporate wrongdoings. Finally, “in the last years of the muckrakers, irresponsible scandal coverage overshadowed substantive public service journalism,” leading to question, what it responsible for this …show more content…
In one of the first court cases to challenge the freedom of speech, Abrams v. United States, 250 U.S. 616 (1919) set precedent for not only citizens speech but eventually journalism during a time of war. The defendants of this case, one being Jacob Abrams, were found guilty of violating the Espionage Act of 1917, for distributing flyers in support of Russian government. The act made it a criminal offense to obtain information of national defense and communicating them to the enemy. Justice John Hessin Clarke gave the majority opinion of the