Turning his muckraking talents to journalism itself, Upton Sinclair exposes a variety of the news media's ingrained biases and its agenda-serving corruption. Upton Sinclair became famous for exposing filthy and inhumane conditions in the American meat packing industry at the turn of the 20th century. Following these revelations, new laws were made protecting factory workers and their conditions. Sinclair afterwards became a figure for condemnation - his personal life was scrutinized and subjected to spurious gossip and rumor, the cause being that the vast majority of newspaper corporations opposed his pro-worker, pro-regulation views. The title of this book alludes to a common practice in brothels: those frequenting these establishments would buy 'brass checks' to hand to the woman of their choice. Sinclair draws a parallel between such customers and the proprietors of the media, who delegate the promotion of their political, financial and social agendas to journalists willing to propagate such ideas.
Author(s): Upton Sinclair
Year: 1919
Language: English
Commentary: searchable
Pages: 440
Tags: journalists, fraud, graft, corruption, bribery, greed, conflict of interest, presstitutes, Journalism -- Professional ethics
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTORY
I THE STORY OF THE BRASS CHECK
II THE STORY OF A POET
III OPEN SESAME!
IV THE REAL FIGHT
V THE CONDEMNED MEAT INDUSTRY
VI AN ADVENTURE WITH ROOSEVELT
VII JACKALS AND A CARCASE
VIII THE LAST ACT
IX AIMING AT THE PUBLIC’S HEART
X A VOICE FROM RUSSIA
XI A VENTURE IN CO-OPERATION
XII THE VILLAGE HORSE-DOCTOR
XIII IN HIGH SOCIETY
XIV THE GREAT PANIC
XV SHREDDED WHEAT BISCUIT
XVI AN INTERVIEW ON MARRIAGE
XVII “GAMING” ON THE SABBATH
XVIII AN ESSENTIAL MONOGAMIST
XIX IN THE LION’S DEN
XX THE STORY OF A LYNCHING
XXI JOURNALISM AND BURGLARY
XXII A MILLIONAIRE AND AN AUTHOR
XXIII THE “HEART WIFE”
XXIV THE MOURNING PICKETS
XXV THE CASE OF THE “A. P.”
XXVI A GOVERNOR AND HIS LIE
XXVII THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AT THE BAR
XXVIII THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND ITS NEWSPAPERS
XXIX THE SCANDAL-BUREAU
XXX THE CONCRETE WALL
XXXI MAKING BOMB-MAKERS
XXXII THE ROOF-GARDEN OF THE WORLD
XXXIII A FOUNTAIN OF POISON
XXXIV THE DAILY CAT-AND-DOG FIGHT
PART II - THE EXPLANATION
XXXV THE CAUSES OF THINGS
XXXVI THE EMPIRE OF BUSINESS
XXXVII THE DREGS OF THE CUP
XXXVIII OWNING THE PRESS
XXXIX THE WAR-MAKERS
XL OWNING THE OWNERS
XLI THE OWNER IN POLITICS
XLII OWNING THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
XLIII THE OWNER AND HIS ADVERTISERS
XLIV THE ADVERTISING BOYCOTT
XLV THE ADVERTISING ECSTASY
XLVI THE BRIBE DIRECT
XLVII THE BRIBE WHOLESALE
XLVIII POISON IVY
XLIX THE ELBERT HUBBARD WORM
L THE PRESS AND PUBLIC WELFARE
LI THE PRESS AND THE RADICALS
LII THE PRESS AND THE SOCIALISTS
LIII THE PRESS AND SEX
LIV THE PRESS AND CRIME
LV THE PRESS AND JACK LONDON
LVI THE PRESS AND LABOR
LVII THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND LABOR
LVIII “POISONED AT THE SOURCE"
LIX THE PRESS AND THE WAR
LX THE CASE OF RUSSIA
LXI "BOLSHEVISM” IN AMERICA
PART III - THE REMEDY
LXII CUTTING THE TIGER’S CLAWS
LXIII THE MENTAL MUNITION-FACTORY
LXIV THE PROBLEM OF THE REPORTER
LXV THE PRESS SET FREE
LXVI A FRAME-UP THAT FELL DOWN
CONCLUSION
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
