Muckrakers

In 1906 president Theodore Roosevelt used the term “muckrakers” to refer to journalist who in his opinion had gone too far in the pursuit of their stories. The term in today’s society reflects upon those who are known to “search out and publicly expose real or apparent misconduct of a prominent individual or business.” Investigative journalist Jessica Mitford takes the accusation that she is a “muckraker” with great pride. To be considered a “muckraker” should be taken with honor. These are the people that formed our society by changing working conditions and informing our consumers. Imagine a family so desperate for a source of income, that they would send their small child to work in a factory. Small children were used as a cheap source of labor, but instead they should be in school. Children were once used to work the machines that require small hands. However this is very dangerous also. Some children that simply mis stepped could fall into a machine which caused severe injury such as a lost limb or even resulted in death. Alongside the children women were also used as a cheap source of labor. Even though women work the same jobs and just as much as men they were paid nowhere near the amount men were paid. Jacob Riis, a photographer from the progressive era, was considered a “muckraker.” Riis exposed the working conditions in factories for what the really were. Among his photographs are images of children who are exhausted and starving. His photos were later used to support labor unions and the movement for better working conditions. As a result of this better working conditions were set in place. People had achieved their ten hour work day and higher wages. As with working conditions, “muckrakers” also informed our consumers. Consumers during those times were unaware of the contents of their products. Producers of this era searched for the most efficient way to save money but still produce in mass quantities. Many companies would sell only half the true contents of a product. For instance, companies would empty half a box of salt and replace it with grains of rice. This method doubled the amount of profit for the producer. There was also no meaning to the word sanitation at this time. In Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle he explains, in great detail, his experiences in the meatpacking industry. Once the work day drew to an end the worker would leave the meat out in the open then continue to grind it on the following day. If a worker got his hand stuck in the grinder then the extracted limb was ground in with the meat and shipped to market. Another story he tells is that men would fall into vats of acid which then were still used. This is the reason all packs of meat are stamped to insure us that the packing plant in sanitary. Although it may seem an honor to be named a “muckraker” it can also be an insult. When Roosevelt first used the term it was meant as an insult to the “yellow journalist” that over exaggerated their stories. This is like the paparazzi today. For example the Kim Kardasian and Kanye West story has been blown out of proportion and is frowned upon. Society tends to over exaggerate all things. We go to the fullest extent to find the “juiciest” story.