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Title: Muckraking!: The Journalism That Changed America by William Serrin, Judith Serrin ISBN: 1-56584-681-8 Publisher: New Press Pub. Date: June, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (1 review)
Rating: 5
Summary: Like the little girl with the curl....
Comment: The original meaning of the word "muck" is "excrement"; the more general term "dirt" is a 14th century development. Given this etymological context, the contemporary meaning of the term "muckraker" is obvious. What we have here in this volume, edited by the Serrins, is a detailed and enlightening examination of "the journalism that changed America." since the mid-eighteenth century. Certainly there has been no shortage of material to attract the interest and reward the efforts of journalists such as Robert S. Abbott, Ray Stannard Baker, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, Nellie Bly, Frederick Douglass, David Halberstam, Seymour Hersh, Arthur Jones, Edward R. Murrow, Tom Paine, Drew Pearson, Lincoln Steffens, Randy Stilts, and Ida M. Tarbell. For many readers such as I, at least a few of these names are unfamiliar as are several of the publications represented (e.g. Chicago Defender, Grand Forks Herald, Jewish Frontier, and McClure's) in which many social and political reforms were eloquently advocated.
The Serrins skillfully organize more than 100 works of varying length within 13 sections, each of which has a general subject (e.g. sports, poverty, war, politics). No doubt many of the journalists represented in this volume had little (if any) idea of what would eventually be uncovered when they began their "raking." Of special interest to me are Douglass' appeal for support to abolish slavery ("Escape to Freedom," 1834), Steinbeck's examination of migratory workers ("Harvest Gypsies," 1936), Nader's indictment of the automobile industry ("Unsafe at Any Speed," 1965), and Hersh's expose of atrocities committed by American troops in Viet Nam ("The My Lai Massacre," 1969). Actually, I found all of the authors well-worth reading (or re-reading) and am grateful for the opportunity to share the thoughts and feelings of several previously unfamiliar to me.
The Serrins have assembled material which suggests how principled as well as passionate investigative journalism can help to achieve at least some reforms within a society which continues to be a "work in progress." Today, journalists continue to investigate allegations concerning corporate fraud (e.g. Enron, Arkadelphia, Global Crossing, and WorldCom), pedophilia (e.g. American priests within the Roman Catholic church), insider trading (e.g. Martha Stewart), and self-serving investment counsel (e.g. Merrill Lynch). It remains to be determined to what extent (if any) any of these current investigations result in any legal or social reform. Meanwhile, it is imperative that those now under investigation, unless confirming the allegations against them, be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Too often, in my opinion, the reverse has been true and the news media must share at least some of the blame for damage done. Investigative journalists should not be exempt from the same rigorous and relentless scrutiny to which they subject others. Question: Who will do that?
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Title: Shaking the Foundations: 200 Years of Investigative Journalism in America by Bruce Shapiro, Pete Hamill ISBN: 1560254335 Publisher: Nation Books Pub. Date: July, 2003 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: The Press and America: An Interpretive History of the Mass Media (9th Edition) by Michael Emery, Edwin Emery, Nancy L. Roberts ISBN: 0205295576 Publisher: Pearson Allyn & Bacon Pub. Date: 06 December, 1999 List Price(USD): $86.40 |
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Title: Citizen Muckraking: Stories and Tools for Defeating the Goliaths of Our Day by Center for Public Integrity, Center for Pub Integrity, The Center for Public Integrity ISBN: 1567511880 Publisher: Common Courage Press Pub. Date: 01 May, 2000 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: The Muckrakers by Arthur Weinberg, Lila Shaffer Weinberg ISBN: 0252069862 Publisher: Univ of Illinois Pr (Pro Ref) Pub. Date: June, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Betrayal: The Crisis in the Catholic Church by Investigative Boston Globe ISBN: 0316776750 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: 03 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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