muckraking
Digging up dirt
Muckraking is journalism that exposes corruption, scandal, or wrongdoing—especially by powerful institutions or public figures.
The term originated in the early 1900s for reporters who investigated corporate abuses and political graft.
Though initially disparaging (raking through muck), it became a badge of honor: Her muckraking brought down the mayor.
The practice continues as investigative journalism.
Devoted to examination
- exposeMake known publicly
- watchdogGuard or monitor
- crusadingAggressively pursuing a cause
- reportingConveying documented information
fact-checking · scoop · tabloid · beat · byline · editor · newsroom · deadline
Favoring reform and innovation
- antitrustAgainst corporate market dominance
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- clean-upAct of restoring order
crusade · advocacy · rectification · amendment · trust-busting · sanitation · food-safety · tenement
Disgraceful public affair
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- sleazeTawdry moral quality
- malfeasanceUnlawful act by officeholder
misconduct · kickback · embezzlement · cronyism · patronage · collusion · fraud · cover-up
Supervision or inadvertent omission
- transparencyState of being see-through
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
governance · audit · inquiry · hearing · subpoena · testimony · investigation · commission
Act of revealing information
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- leakEscape through a breach
- uncoverReveal what's hidden
- unearthExcavate or reveal hidden
evidence · documentation · proof · testimony · insider · whistleblower · informant · tip-off
Overstating beyond reality
- hyperboleRhetorical extreme exaggeration
- melodramaSensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- scaremongeringSpreading exaggerated threats
- clickbaitSensationalized content for traffic
hype · overstatement · dramatization · lurid · titillation · rumormongering · innuendo · smear
Scottish-origin family name
- JungleUpton's slaughterhouse novel
- meatpackingProcessing livestock into food
- robber-baronsExploitative industrial tycoons
- RooseveltFamous presidential surname
investigative
Devoted to examination
reporting · fact-checking · scoop · tabloid · beat · byline · editor · newsroom · deadline · source
progressive
Favoring reform and innovation
- antitrustAgainst corporate market dominance
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
clean-up · crusade · advocacy · rectification · amendment · trust-busting · sanitation · food-safety · tenement · sweatshop
scandal
Disgraceful public affair
malfeasance · misconduct · kickback · embezzlement · cronyism · patronage · collusion · fraud · cover-up · impropriety
oversight
Supervision or inadvertent omission
- transparencyState of being see-through
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
scrutiny · governance · audit · inquiry · hearing · subpoena · testimony · investigation · commission · ombudsman
disclosure
Act of revealing information
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- leakEscape through a breach
- uncoverReveal what's hidden
unearth · evidence · documentation · proof · testimony · insider · whistleblower · informant · tip-off · deep-throat
exaggeration
Overstating beyond reality
- hyperboleRhetorical extreme exaggeration
- melodramaSensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- scaremongeringSpreading exaggerated threats
clickbait · hype · overstatement · dramatization · lurid · titillation · rumormongering · innuendo · smear · dirt
Sinclair
Scottish-origin family name
- JungleUpton's slaughterhouse novel
- meatpackingProcessing livestock into food
- robber-baronsExploitative industrial tycoons
- mediatelevision, mass media, news, broadcasting, video
- Media Historyprinting press, newspaper, telegraph, radio, television
- newspapersnewspaper, headlines, headline, news, articles
- pressnewspaper, press laws, free press, newsroom, press cards
- alternative mediaalternative media, alternative weekly, underground press, citizen journalism, zine
- American IdeasAmerican Dream, American exceptionalism, transcendentalism, manifest destiny, self-reliance
muckrakingpuff piece
Fawning, uncritical article
hagiography · whitewashing · boosterism · encouragement · public relations
muckrakingpropaganda
Biased information for influence
public relations · spin · cover-up · suppression · state media
muckrakingsycophancy
Obsequious behavior toward authority
bootlicking · stenography · cheerleading · deference · apologetics
- muckraking journalismReporting that exposes corruption
muck, raking, muckraker, mucker, muckrake, muckrakers, muckraked, muckrakes