Lincoln Steffens' Muckraking Journalism Revolutionized American News

Lincoln Steffens, who lived from 1866 to 1936, was a key figure in shaping objective political journalism in early 20th-century America, changing how the media operated. He kicked off his career with the New York Evening Post in the mid-1890s, where he covered Wall Street and crime, digging into what drove both criminals and the police. His interest in corruption led him to McClure's Magazine, where he exposed discussions on issues like election tampering and fraud. His series, 'Shame of the Cities,' pointed out how the middle class played a role in this corruption, especially in places like San Francisco and New York. In his 1931 autobiography, a bestseller, he reflected on his California upbringing and notable figures like Roosevelt and Wilson. Granville Hicks labeled it as a highly influential work of the New Deal era. Steffens’ impact can be seen in the work of later journalists, including Bob Woodward and Rachel Carson.