Muckraker

As Muckraker (English for " crap scratches, Schmutzaufwühler, traitor " ) were in the history of the newspapers of the United States in the early 20th century American journalist and writer called, which can be regarded as fathers of investigative journalism. Her work is seen in close connection with the era of American progressivism.

They revealed social ills, dirty business, felt, nepotism and corruption in business and politics. The then U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt described this as a muckraker journalists, after a character in John Bunyan's book The Pilgrim's Progress, the Man with Muckrake ( man with the pitchfork ), which scrapes the feces of animals from a stall. God wants to put a crown of faith this man because he uncomplaining and reliable daily done the dirty but necessary work; but the Man with the Muckrake has sheer glance Forgot down as one looks up to the sky and therefore did not notice God's offer. The figure represents a person who comes up so much in his life that he forgets God.

Roosevelt described the work of the Muckraker as highly necessary, but exhorted them to always stick to the truth. The public followed the revelations with growing interest, and finally, a movement developed ( muckraking movement) which caused many judicial investigations of the affairs and some legislative reforms.

The best-known literary work of the Muckraker Era The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. Investigative journalism was previously represented by Benjamin Flower, Ida Tarbell and Lincoln Steffens and Sinclair had a strong influence. But the book itself and its legislative consequences in turn fertilized this kind of journalism. Other famous Muckraker in the era of progressivism were Samuel Hopkins Adams and Nellie Bly.

Formation and development of muckraking

The emergence of the muckraking works fairly precise place in the beginning of the 20th century. Roosevelt's disrespectful description of investigative journalists as Muckraker originally referred to the series of articles in The Treason of the Senate, David Graham Phillips. Philip accused the then high-ranking politicians in the USA and other to promote the interests of the rich strata of society and to favor certain enterprises bribes in contract awards. However, despite the negative assessment of investigative activities by Roosevelt, an intensive media movement, which soon joined a large number of journalists developed. In addition, the term " muckraking " more in the industry ductus of the benevolent name of public service journalism.

The dynamics of the muckraking benefited from technical and economic changes. The last third of the 19th century brought about technological innovations that enabled the printing industry, their print products to publishing masse. A comprehensive optimization of the U.S. postal system has paved the way for a faster and more practical organized distribution of print media. The range of print publications developed in the last third of the 19th century by about 6% to about 20% of the then American population. The improved printing and distribution mechanisms had a revenue increase, according to the newspapers, who could now afford to offer their journalistic work more leeway. Even consuming, investigative journalism was now affordable.

Not only the number of players in the journalistic Muckrakings rose at that time. Due to the favorable production newspapers and magazines could now conveniently available to purchase. Declining sales prices have meant that not only the upper class of the American population could afford newspapers and magazines. More and more able to participate and the middle classes on the use of print media. While the reader of the upper class were mostly interested in feuillitonistischen content, the readers of the middle class could focus excite for everyday and practical issues (hard news). Usually the content of politics and business.

By 1916, the number of newspaper titles increased to the maximum of 2461. The number of magazines made ​​the jump from 1200 to 5500 different specimens. 20 million households have now been achieved, what a total population of 90 million people a widespread need for information documenting the resulting increase in competition in the print landscape made ​​sure that they went to search for ideas in the editorial offices. Among the new ideas, the conceptions of those skandalaufdeckender stories prevailed, which belong to the genre of muckraking. In order to continuously retain reader interest in itself, muckraking posts were published as a series.

Properties of muckraking articles

Thematically, the muckraking articles were created diverse. Never been serviced twice and the same subject. On another level, but there are, however, very striking similarities. This concerns mainly the appeal function, which is across determine when two illustrated copies of muckraking articles. First, the authors named article are is to personalize the problem situation. Every reader feels himself addressed when recording the information. The authors also show the immoral acting actors from society and economy on the possibilities of the extent of their actions and mentioned clear what degree of consequences this may have for the individual concerned. As a result, they were afraid even to the reader to imply inaction and blame. The aim was to persuade the general population to act in the spirit of progressivism. The reform will of the American people should be kindled and incited by this procedure.

Political impact of the muckraking era

The question of the concrete and direct influence of the muckraking posts on certain changes in legislation can not be fully understood on the current literature available. Nevertheless, one can bring some cases in conjunction, so that it is clear that the muckraking by and large not only was part of the reform period, but also as a catalyst of these processes can be considered. Some examples of correlations between muckraking articles and legislative improvements are presented.

After the publication of its reports on the scandalous conditions in slaughterhouses Upton Sinclair could probably overlook the Pure Food and Drug Act with satisfaction that bears his demands to a large extent account. The change was already after publication of his book included with the applicable U.S. law for half a year 's jungle. Furthermore, it was complied with his demands for health and safety measures and maternity protection, making this relatively quickly received entry into the United States. The rights of the broad working class were strengthened by the Clayton Antitrust Act. Support Upton Sinclair received mainly by the then U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.

Ida M. Tarbell's coverage of the Standard Oil Company provided the impetus to strengthen the Sherman Antitrust Act, although it was officially since 1890, but in its implementation, the reins were allowed to grind for a long time. Awareness of existing law was sharpened by Tarbell's criticism. Monopolies and dominant influence names of individual companies was thus prevented.

Another example of a change in the law as a result of muckraking activities represents the Newspaper Publicity Act, which manifested the position of the press as the fourth state power.

Decline of muckraking

The decline of the muckraking era after about 15 years is due to two factors.

Political and social factors

First, the political factors should be identified. The presidential campaign between Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Eugene Debs split the hitherto politically homogeneous muckraking scene. The election defeat Roosevelt in the end had a negative impact on the progress of the Muckrakings as this over time had made their own and represent key aspects of the muckraking movement.

Another key point of the decline was the U.S. entry into the First World War. Thus there was a shift of interest from domestic affairs to foreign affairs. The events on the European front were interesting and superimposed internal political events. Connected to the removal of the muckraking activities is also the dwindling readers interested in scandalous material. In the population could be ascertained a certain " scandal fatigue". This can be explained by the mass of uncovered scandals that led to reduced to the articles so special and attractive moment.

Economic factors

Economic conditions have been associated with the political factors described above. The contact numbers and diversity of titles had passed its peak in 1910, then there were the figures for the period of a decade descending. As already mentioned, moving the editors of muckraking media on thin financial ice that is increasingly needed to see exposed in sales. The increasing financial problems of newspapers and magazines resulted in either bankruptcy, or to the fact that they were " eaten up" by larger media groups. The parent corporations tolerated mostly not overly critical reporting, so that the editorial content had to be put into perspective.

Presence of the muckraking

Although the muckraking era took place in 1917, a first end, but there were and are up to the present journalists and publications that - following the tradition Muckraker - uncovered hidden grievances and have caused changes through the democratic public. Rota therefore Muckraker is also the title of the members of the newspaper investigative journalists association network recherche. The most famous German representatives of this form of journalism is Günter Wallraff.

Katherine Mayo, Gustavus Myers, and later Eric Schlosser are also members of the genus.

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