President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919; see entry in volume 3) had a reputation as a reformer—one who exposes corruption and injustice and fights for fairness. There were many reform crusades by individuals or groups at the turn of the century. It was during this period when exposé journalism first became widely popular in the United States. Exposé journalism refers to investigative reporting of a person or organization suspected of wrongdoing. During the 1890s, investigative reporting was used to draw readers to newspapers, which began flourishing on a national scale. From 1900 to World War I (1914-18), magazines became increasingly popular, partly by featuring investigative reports.

Some journalists engaged in sensationalism, or "yellow journalism"—terms that refer to stories based on rumor, not fact; that aggressively highlight scandals; and that showcase the worst...