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Book Summary:
This informational book explains the origins of investigative journalism by focusing on three well-known “muckrakers” who pioneered the genre during their tenure at McClure’s a popular magazine at the turn of the century. With the exception of the second and sixth chapters, each chapter focuses on a particular journalist, the story he or she broke, and how public outrage over each story spurred social change. Through the stories of Ida Tarbell’s fight against the Standard Oil Company, Lincoln Steffen’s exposure of corruption and political bosses, and Upton Sinclair’s illumination of the appalling conditions in the meatpacking industries of Chicago, Bausum (2007) advances the premise that journalists are a necessary fourth branch of government, which helps hold those in power in check. Chapter #2 provides an explanation of the Progressive era, its origins, and major figures, such as Roosevelt and Rockefeller, while Chapter #6 gives examples of 20th and 21st century investigative reporters who have carried on the muckraking tradition.
APA Reference:
Bausum. (2007). Muckrakers. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society.
Impressions:
I enjoy history, and Ann Bausum’s (2007) terse yet elegant prose was easy to read. Her journalistic style is reminiscent of a typical feature story. She uses very specific verbs and generally locates characters with actions at the beginning of sentences. Her sentences are short, but use a variety of structures. For example, regarding Tarbell’s war of words against Standard Oil, Bausum (2007) uses precise diction, writing, “A simple series of three articles mushroomed over time into plans for 6, then 12, and finally some 20 pieces” (p.38). In this statement, Bausum (2007) elegantly uses “mushroomed” instead of “grew,” and uses a series of commas at the end, that, while preserving simple structure, add drama to the statement (p.38).
The overall design of the book was what struck me most. Pages and photos have antique sepia tones, which heightens the readers’ awareness of the past. Photos often have signatures or descriptions written over them just as they would have done in an acid wash back in the day. The page numbers, glosses, and illuminated letters at the beginning of chapters are cleverly done as typewriter buttons and keys. The captions of illustrations are also done in type-face, an echo of the title page, where the sub-title appears to emanating from an old fashioned typewriter. Overall, the scrapbook-like style makes the book seem very authentic and close to the history that Bausum (2007) describes, which readers will no doubt find clever and appealing.
As a research resource, I feel this book has a lot to offer, especially since it has such a narrow scope, focusing primarily on only a handful of individuals in a very specific time period, the first decade of the 20th century. The back of the book provides a useful list of resources and web sites, as well as a bibliography, for further exploration (Bausum, 2007, p.104-105). Best of all a “Time Line of Muckraking and Pantheon of Muckrakers” is included that traces the history of investigative reporting through the years and spotlights numerous journalists on antique-looking placards that resemble old-fashioned baseball cards (p.94-103. These spotlighted journalists get their own picture and an in-depth summary describing their contributions to the profession and society. The book would be especially appealing to a student who is interested in pursuing journalism as a possible career path.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I felt Bausum’s work was accurate, reliable, and generally unbiased. However, the reader should note that Bausum does set up a classic binary. Journalists are painted a heroic warriors, wielding a sword of truth, fighting against injustice. In fact, her stereotypical portrayal of good journalist vs. big, bad business (and government) smacks a little of George facing the dragon. In her attempt to build a dramatic narrative, sometimes I felt like Bausum wobbles into mythic typecasting, which is a shame, since her overall message is sound and important. I also felt Chapter #6 was a big let- down because it just became a laundry list of investigative journalists in the rest of the century. I also found it weird that a huge photo of Murrow was included, yet his story wasn’t a focus of Bausum’s (2007) narrative (p.72). In addition, I felt like there were some odd oversights, especially in the “Muckraking at the Movies” section of the “Resource Guide” (Bausum, 2007, p.104). Modern day muckraking documentaries, like Michael Moore’s work or An Inconvenient Truth are conspicuously and puzzlingly absent from her list. Finally, Bausum (2007) spends some time discussing muckraking on the Internet, but she doesn’t really encourage students to go do their own work online; I think she missed an opportunity to point kids towards some places where they could make their own voices heard, especially in the “Resource Guide” section (p.104).
Professional Review:
Grades 6-9. The author of Sibert Honor Book Freedom Riders (2006), Bausum turns her attention to muckrakers, 20th-century journalists who investigated corruption and called for reform. While the book surveys the century, it emphasizes the early years, spotlighting figures such as Lincoln Steffens for his investigative articles on city governments, Ida Tarbell for her extensive writings on Standard Oil, and Upton Sinclair for his exposé of the lives and work of meat packers in The Jungle. Other significant figures who reappear many times in the narrative are magazine publisher S.S. McClure and President Theodore Roosevelt, who coined the derogatory term “muckrakers.” The well-captioned, black-and-white illustrations, mainly photos, are sometimes reproduced with a sepia tone. The extensive back matter includes a detailed timeline, illustrated with 12 baseball-card-size boxes giving biographical information on significant muckrakers; lists of recommended books, movies, and Internet sites; a bibliography; citations for quotes and illustrations; and a description of Bausum’s travel and research for the book. Clearly written, this offers a very readable and informative introduction to American muckrakers.
Phelan, C. (2007). [Review of the book Muckrakers: how Ida Tarbell, Upton Sinclair, and Lincoln Steffens helped expose scandal, inspire reform, and invent investigative journalism, by A. Bausum]. The Booklist, 104(5), 35-36. Retrieved from ProQuest database. https://libproxy.library.unt.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/235511943?accountid=7113
Library Uses:
This book would be a perfect fit in a history unit on the Progressive Era, but in terms of library programming, it might be fun to promote the book in conjunction with a fieldtrip to the Newseum in nearby Washington, D.C. The book could be part of a display promoting both the trip and the books. Participants who came on the trip could then get to see in real life many of the things they had learned and read about from the books in the display. For this book especially, it would extend understandings about many of the modern day journalists who are working today. Participants would also get to test-drive making their own stories. Depending on the libraries location, a physical field trip might not be possible, so as an alternative, librarians could work with Newseum staff to develop a customized virtual field trip that could be held on an afternoon. Instead of visiting in person, related exhibits could be projected onto a large screen, or virtual visitors could take a Google Earth tour through the exhibits.
This informational book explains the origins of investigative journalism by focusing on three well-known “muckrakers” who pioneered the genre during their tenure at McClure’s a popular magazine at the turn of the century. With the exception of the second and sixth chapters, each chapter focuses on a particular journalist, the story he or she broke, and how public outrage over each story spurred social change. Through the stories of Ida Tarbell’s fight against the Standard Oil Company, Lincoln Steffen’s exposure of corruption and political bosses, and Upton Sinclair’s illumination of the appalling conditions in the meatpacking industries of Chicago, Bausum (2007) advances the premise that journalists are a necessary fourth branch of government, which helps hold those in power in check. Chapter #2 provides an explanation of the Progressive era, its origins, and major figures, such as Roosevelt and Rockefeller, while Chapter #6 gives examples of 20th and 21st century investigative reporters who have carried on the muckraking tradition.
APA Reference:
Bausum. (2007). Muckrakers. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society.
Impressions:
I enjoy history, and Ann Bausum’s (2007) terse yet elegant prose was easy to read. Her journalistic style is reminiscent of a typical feature story. She uses very specific verbs and generally locates characters with actions at the beginning of sentences. Her sentences are short, but use a variety of structures. For example, regarding Tarbell’s war of words against Standard Oil, Bausum (2007) uses precise diction, writing, “A simple series of three articles mushroomed over time into plans for 6, then 12, and finally some 20 pieces” (p.38). In this statement, Bausum (2007) elegantly uses “mushroomed” instead of “grew,” and uses a series of commas at the end, that, while preserving simple structure, add drama to the statement (p.38).
The overall design of the book was what struck me most. Pages and photos have antique sepia tones, which heightens the readers’ awareness of the past. Photos often have signatures or descriptions written over them just as they would have done in an acid wash back in the day. The page numbers, glosses, and illuminated letters at the beginning of chapters are cleverly done as typewriter buttons and keys. The captions of illustrations are also done in type-face, an echo of the title page, where the sub-title appears to emanating from an old fashioned typewriter. Overall, the scrapbook-like style makes the book seem very authentic and close to the history that Bausum (2007) describes, which readers will no doubt find clever and appealing.
As a research resource, I feel this book has a lot to offer, especially since it has such a narrow scope, focusing primarily on only a handful of individuals in a very specific time period, the first decade of the 20th century. The back of the book provides a useful list of resources and web sites, as well as a bibliography, for further exploration (Bausum, 2007, p.104-105). Best of all a “Time Line of Muckraking and Pantheon of Muckrakers” is included that traces the history of investigative reporting through the years and spotlights numerous journalists on antique-looking placards that resemble old-fashioned baseball cards (p.94-103. These spotlighted journalists get their own picture and an in-depth summary describing their contributions to the profession and society. The book would be especially appealing to a student who is interested in pursuing journalism as a possible career path.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I felt Bausum’s work was accurate, reliable, and generally unbiased. However, the reader should note that Bausum does set up a classic binary. Journalists are painted a heroic warriors, wielding a sword of truth, fighting against injustice. In fact, her stereotypical portrayal of good journalist vs. big, bad business (and government) smacks a little of George facing the dragon. In her attempt to build a dramatic narrative, sometimes I felt like Bausum wobbles into mythic typecasting, which is a shame, since her overall message is sound and important. I also felt Chapter #6 was a big let- down because it just became a laundry list of investigative journalists in the rest of the century. I also found it weird that a huge photo of Murrow was included, yet his story wasn’t a focus of Bausum’s (2007) narrative (p.72). In addition, I felt like there were some odd oversights, especially in the “Muckraking at the Movies” section of the “Resource Guide” (Bausum, 2007, p.104). Modern day muckraking documentaries, like Michael Moore’s work or An Inconvenient Truth are conspicuously and puzzlingly absent from her list. Finally, Bausum (2007) spends some time discussing muckraking on the Internet, but she doesn’t really encourage students to go do their own work online; I think she missed an opportunity to point kids towards some places where they could make their own voices heard, especially in the “Resource Guide” section (p.104).
Professional Review:
Grades 6-9. The author of Sibert Honor Book Freedom Riders (2006), Bausum turns her attention to muckrakers, 20th-century journalists who investigated corruption and called for reform. While the book surveys the century, it emphasizes the early years, spotlighting figures such as Lincoln Steffens for his investigative articles on city governments, Ida Tarbell for her extensive writings on Standard Oil, and Upton Sinclair for his exposé of the lives and work of meat packers in The Jungle. Other significant figures who reappear many times in the narrative are magazine publisher S.S. McClure and President Theodore Roosevelt, who coined the derogatory term “muckrakers.” The well-captioned, black-and-white illustrations, mainly photos, are sometimes reproduced with a sepia tone. The extensive back matter includes a detailed timeline, illustrated with 12 baseball-card-size boxes giving biographical information on significant muckrakers; lists of recommended books, movies, and Internet sites; a bibliography; citations for quotes and illustrations; and a description of Bausum’s travel and research for the book. Clearly written, this offers a very readable and informative introduction to American muckrakers.
Phelan, C. (2007). [Review of the book Muckrakers: how Ida Tarbell, Upton Sinclair, and Lincoln Steffens helped expose scandal, inspire reform, and invent investigative journalism, by A. Bausum]. The Booklist, 104(5), 35-36. Retrieved from ProQuest database. https://libproxy.library.unt.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/235511943?accountid=7113
Library Uses:
This book would be a perfect fit in a history unit on the Progressive Era, but in terms of library programming, it might be fun to promote the book in conjunction with a fieldtrip to the Newseum in nearby Washington, D.C. The book could be part of a display promoting both the trip and the books. Participants who came on the trip could then get to see in real life many of the things they had learned and read about from the books in the display. For this book especially, it would extend understandings about many of the modern day journalists who are working today. Participants would also get to test-drive making their own stories. Depending on the libraries location, a physical field trip might not be possible, so as an alternative, librarians could work with Newseum staff to develop a customized virtual field trip that could be held on an afternoon. Instead of visiting in person, related exhibits could be projected onto a large screen, or virtual visitors could take a Google Earth tour through the exhibits.