Nieman Reports
Spring 2008
21st Century Muckrakers

Watchdog reporting resides at the core of what journalism does. Its roots dig deeply into the common ground uniting the muckrakers’ unearthing of public and private scandals a century ago with what investigative reporters are illuminating today. Though reporting and distribution of this news is very different in the digital era, unfortunately the human conditions requiring press scrutiny are not. These include patterns of corruption and malfeasance among those holding powerful positions of public and private trust.
Download PDF21st Century Muckrakers: Who Are They? How Do They Do Their Work?
Watchdogs in Washington
Nonprofit Approach
The Digital Transformation
Newsroom Investigative Reporting
Global Watchdogs
Words & Reflections
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Secrets and the Press
By Walter Pincus
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Loud Noises, Sharp Elbows, and Impolitic Questions
By Jim Boyd
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Urgent Issues the Press Usually Ignore
By Danny Schechter
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Intimidation and Convictions of Journalists
By Morton Mintz
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Teaching Multimedia Journalism
By Rebecca MacKinnon
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Journalists as Storytellers
By Guillermo Franco
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Valued Classroom Resources
By Rebecca MacKinnon
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Journalism 2.0—And Then What?
By Christine Gorman