Which term describes news coverage focusing on exposing corrupt business and government practices?

Which term describes news coverage focusing on exposing corrupt business and government practices?

• A. Muckraking
• B. Priming
• C. Prior restraint
• D. Public relations

Answer: (A)

Focusing on exposing corrupt business and government practices is muckraking. This term comes from Progressive Era journalism, describing investigative reporting whose aim is to reveal wrongdoing and prompt reform. Muckraking reporters dug into abuses, monopolies, political corruption, and unsafe or unfair practices, often sharing detailed investigations to inform the public and spur action. Famous examples include Ida Tarbell’s investigations of Standard Oil and Lincoln Steffens’s studies of city governments, with works like Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle that highlighted industry-related harms and helped drive reforms. This approach is different from priming, which deals with shaping what issues people think about; from prior restraint, which involves legal limits on publishing content before it appears; and from public relations, which aims to present a favorable image rather than uncover misconduct.

Focusing on exposing corrupt business and government practices is muckraking. This term comes from Progressive Era journalism, describing investigative reporting whose aim is to reveal wrongdoing and prompt reform. Muckraking reporters dug into abuses, monopolies, political corruption, and unsafe or unfair practices, often sharing detailed investigations to inform the public and spur action. Famous examples include Ida Tarbell’s investigations of Standard Oil and Lincoln Steffens’s studies of city governments, with works like Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle that highlighted industry-related harms and helped drive reforms. This approach is different from priming, which deals with shaping what issues people think about; from prior restraint, which involves legal limits on publishing content before it appears; and from public relations, which aims to present a favorable image rather than uncover misconduct.