Which term describes journalists who exposed social ills and advocated reform during the Progressive Era?

• A. Realists
• B. Symbolists
• C. Muckrakers
• D. Modernists

Answer: (C)

Muckrakers is the term for journalists who exposed social ills and pushed for reform during the Progressive Era. These investigative writers dug into corruption, unsafe business practices, poor urban conditions, child labor, and other injustices, aiming to spark public awareness and government action. The label came from Theodore Roosevelt, who used it to describe reform-minded reporters, though the term eventually became associated with serious, muck-raking investigative work.

Think of famous examples like Upton Sinclair revealing meatpacking horrors (which helped lead to food-safety laws), Ida Tarbell detailing monopolistic practices of Standard Oil, and Lincoln Steffens exposing political corruption in cities. Their reporting shaped public opinion and contributed to landmark reforms in regulation, antitrust actions, and social welfare.

The other terms refer to literary or artistic movements rather than journalists focused on social reform, so they don’t fit the description of this question.