Pros And Cons Of Muckraking

Throughout history and our current era, secrets have been uncovered by behind-the-scenes workers. These people use their skills to release information to the public that never would have been seen or heard, and by exposing the misconduct of certain individuals or institutions, they are necessary for learning secrets that hide in the corners of our world. Muckrakers use investigative journalism to uncover the lies and information necessary to the public, forcibly removing citizens from ignorance and providing them with startling truths. Starting in the early 20th century, the idea of muckraking has been increasingly known. Even a century ago, investigative journalists like Ida Tarbell have uncovered secrets hidden within the country. Working …show more content…
But when the idea of muckraking was only beginning, many critics formed to attack the movement. Was the work of Tarbell and her associates benefitting the public by providing them the information against major companies and the government, or were their actions digging too deep into private information in the pursuit of their work? According to the results of Tarbell’s investigations and the work of her many successors, muckraking has proven through that journalism is necessary for public good by intervening in scandals. Muckraking is an essential part of revealing information, and a muckraker’s pursuit for hidden truths should be honored. They are burdened with the task of picking through a carefully twisted web of …show more content…
As stated before, muckrakers have to detangle a web of lies to eventually unravel their conclusions. In order for the web to be there to begin with, there must be a person or group that feels the need to hide their secrets. This is where the problematic part of their job begins: navigating the fine line between exposing crucial information to the public and damaging the self-image of the subject beyond repair. There have been multiple real-world examples showing the divide over the benefits and misfortunes of muckrakers. In the case of Edward Snowden, where he exposed that the U.S. was spying on and hacking its citizens and various other nations to international journalists, the muckraking used to expose the U.S. prompted questions about whether the leak was so damaging to the country that the information never should have been revealed. After all, the Snowden leak exposed that the NSA was spying on American allies and influential leaders along with its own citizens. The leak could have possibly ended with the United states polarized as an enemy to some of its longest and closest allies. Despite this, the leak was important for the light shed on the NSA’s overstep of privacy. Once the leak was out, the world