muckraked
Investigated corrupt dealings
Muckraked is the past tense of muckrake, meaning to search for and expose corruption, scandal, or misconduct—especially by public figures or institutions.
The term originally described investigative journalists in the early 1900s who dug through society's "muck" to uncover wrongdoing: The reporter muckraked for months before publishing the exposé on city hall.
Investigative journalism piece
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- SinclairScottish-origin family name
wrongdoing · uncovered · revealed · published · reported · editorial · headline · byline
Improve by correcting faults
- ProgressiveReform movement supporter
- Gilded AgeLate 1800s American prosperity
- trust-bustingDissolving illegal monopolies
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
accountability · officials · graft · bribery · kickbacks · cronyism · patronage · machine politics
Historic petroleum monopoly
- meatpackingProcessing livestock into food
- monopolyOne seller, no substitutes
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- unsafeLikely to cause harm
sweatshop · fraud · profiteering · price-fixing · collusion · adulteration · coverup · whistleblower
exposé
Investigative journalism piece
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- investigationFormal examination of facts
Sinclair · wrongdoing · uncovered · revealed · published · reported · editorial · headline · byline · sources
reform
Improve by correcting faults
- ProgressiveReform movement supporter
- Gilded AgeLate 1800s American prosperity
- trust-bustingDissolving illegal monopolies
legislation · accountability · officials · graft · bribery · kickbacks · cronyism · patronage · machine politics · Tammany
Standard Oil
Historic petroleum monopoly
- meatpackingProcessing livestock into food
- monopolyOne seller, no substitutes
- exploitationSelfish use of others
unsafe · sweatshop · fraud · profiteering · price-fixing · collusion · adulteration · coverup · whistleblower · audit
muckrakedwhitewashed
Concealed with false appearance
puffed up · flattered · glorified · lionized · celebrated
- muckraking journalismReporting that exposes corruption