MUCKRAKERS
Noun
muckrakers
plural of muckraker
Source: Wiktionary
MUCKRAKER
Muck"rake`, v. i. [imp. & p. p. -raked; p. pr. & vb. n. -raking.]
Definition: To seek for, expose, or charge, esp. habitually, corruption,
real or alleged, on the part of public men and corporations. On April
14, 1906, President Roosevelt delivered a speech on "The Man with the
Muck Rake," in which he deprecated sweeping and unjust charges of
corruption against public men and corporations. The phrase was taken
up by the press, and the verb to muck"rake`, in the above sense, and
the noun muck"rak`er, to designate one so engaged, were speedily
coined and obtained wide currency. The original allusion was to a
character in Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" so intent on raking up
muck that he could not see a celestial crown held above him.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition