"Smart and illuminating."
Citizen Reporters is beautifully written, deeply reported, and worthy of its very worthy subjects. Through the stories of S.S. McClure, his star reporter Ida Tarbell, and the writers associated with McClure’s magazine, Stephanie Gorton gives us a fascinating glimpse of a formative time in American history—and reveals the urgent and necessary role played by investigative journalists.
Exciting . . . Stephanie Gorton has written more than a beautifully crafted and original narrative history. She reminds us of the courage and passion that fearless magazine journalists must find once again to reveal the true American landscape.”
All great editors have an eye for talent. After reading “Citizen Reporters,” I’m convinced that McClure had the greatest eye of all time…. Well crafted and readable…. Nuanced.
"Reading Stephanie Gorton’s smart and engaging Citizen Reporters summoned rhythms of a past whose cadence can be felt in the present.... Fascinating.... Gorton provides readers with a rich context for understanding the historical and cultural milieu."
Gorton’s fresh and vivid biographical history ultimately affirms the essential role an independent press of conscience plays in our democracy.
Citizen Reporters is a vibrant tale of courage and perseverance. With a thorough and steady hand, Stephanie Gorton guides the reader back in time, telling the origin story of America’s long tradition of bold and incisive journalism. Ida Tarbell and S.S. McClure’s inner lives are interwoven in a story of feminism and American reporting that will have a lasting impact on its readers.
"[Gorton] explores the clash and interplay of talents that created an entity greater than the sum of its parts, absorbed in an endeavor as important now as it was then: molding coherent narratives that help readers—surrounded by a cacophony of daily stories—grasp the changes they are living through."
In an era newly-conscious of journalism driven by exposing wrongdoing, Citizen Reporters stands as an essential read of America’s long history with reporting on urgent matters of social justice.
Anyone who loves journalism will revel in this story of an unlikely partnership that shaped the media business, helped to define investigative reporting, and showed Americans the injustices and inequities in our midst. We wouldn’t be the country we are today without McClure’s.
"S.S. McClure altered the realm of magazines while educating the public. Then Ida Tarbell, while breaking gender barriers, altered American democracy for the better. Bravo for Stephanie Gorton for bringing the saga to a new generation of readers."
"Citizen Reporters offers a fascinating exploration of the adventurous work produced at McClure’s. In Stephanie Gorton’s crisp, fast-moving narrative, we come to know, love, and fear visionary editor S.S. McClure. Even more memorably, we meet top journalist Ida Tarbell, whose stamp on the science and craft of in-depth reporting remains indelible more than a century later. This is a fun, absorbing story with surprises on just about every page."
"In an era echoing our own, two trailblazing journalists — one a fearless woman — confront the monied interests and political corruption that distort the fundamental fairness of American society. Stephanie Gorton's beautifully shaped and closely researched narrative shows how the same manic energy that propelled its founder to embrace such a high-risk and pioneering venture ultimately led to McClure's demise. We can be grateful that its legacy lives on."
All great editors have an eye for talent. After reading “Citizen Reporters,” I’m convinced that McClure had the greatest eye of all time…. Well crafted and readable…. Nuanced.
Gorton’s fresh and vivid biographical history ultimately affirms the essential role an independent press of conscience plays in our democracy.
"Smart and illuminating."
11/01/2019
Consummate examples of groundbreaking investigative journalism include Upton Sinclair's muckraking, which exposed the poor working conditions of Chicago's meat-packing industry, and Bob Woodward's and Carl Bernstein's sleuthing, toppled the Nixon administration after the Watergate break-in. Yet as freelance writer Gorton reveals, McClure's magazine (1893–1931) was instrumental in paving the way for reporters to battle corruption and drive change in society. Assembling a crack team of writers, including most notably Ida Tarbell, who took down the Standard Oil monopoly; Ray Stannard Baker; Lincoln Steffens; and Willa Cather; the charismatic S.S. McClure designed a model general-interest publication of the Progressive Era featuring in-depth, biographical sketches of historical figures, of-the-moment newsworthy pieces, and literary works from luminaries such as Rudyard Kipling, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Arthur Conan Doyle. Key to the magazine's ultimate success, suggests Gorton, was McClure's lively, temperamental personality and determination to position the magazine as a "cultural force." VERDICT Readers interested in Gilded Age history and its parallels to contemporary society will enjoy learning about this trailblazing publication.—Donna Marie Smith, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL
2019-10-21
A history of McClure's magazine, its publisher, and its most important contributor.
While employed on the editorial side of magazines and book publishing, Gorton began wondering about the motivations and interpersonal dynamics of writers and editors. When she discovered a century-old professional relationship between magazine publisher Samuel Sidney McClure and his star writer, Ida Minerva Tarbell, she began to conduct research for this book. Both born in 1857, McClure and Tarbell met in 1892 as he sought to hire her for the editorial staff of his nascent, eponymous monthly magazine. That magazine would become hugely successful from 1893 until about 1906, when internal and external forces caused a decline, leading to eventual closure. In Gorton's wide-ranging book, the magazine does not make its debut until nearly 100 pages in. Before that, the author lays out a dual biography, alternating chapters between the two outsized personalities. While McClure was restless, Tarbell was steadier in nature. Gorton conducted primary documents research in archives filled with papers from McClure (mostly in Indiana) and Tarbell (mostly in Pennsylvania). The author also cites liberally from a previous McClure biography as well as two previous Tarbell biographies and her memoir, All in a Day's Work, originally published in 1939. Tarbell's fame rests largely on her accomplishments as a muckraking woman journalist in the male-dominated industry while McClure was well known for his ability to lead "by enthusiasm, rather than by example." The best-known content—an exposé of Standard Oil Company and John D. Rockefeller researched and written by Tarbell—appeared in installments published between 1902 and 1904 and was later published in 1904 as The History of the Standard Oil Company. Though Gorton offers a sturdy portrait of Tarbell and McClure for a new generation of readers, much of the information she provides has already appeared in previous books and historical journals. The author variously refers to Tarbell as "Miss Tarbell," "Ida Tarbell," or simply "Ida," which becomes distracting.
An adequate resource for readers new to this piece of the history of American journalism.
"Smart and illuminating." — Washington Post
“All great editors have an eye for talent. After reading “Citizen Reporters,” I’m convinced that McClure had the greatest eye of all time…. Well crafted and readable…. Nuanced.” — Wall Street Journal
"[Gorton] explores the clash and interplay of talents that created an entity greater than the sum of its parts, absorbed in an endeavor as important now as it was then: molding coherent narratives that help readers—surrounded by a cacophony of daily stories—grasp the changes they are living through." — The Atlantic
"Reading Stephanie Gorton’s smart and engaging Citizen Reporters summoned rhythms of a past whose cadence can be felt in the present.... Fascinating.... Gorton provides readers with a rich context for understanding the historical and cultural milieu." — Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Gorton’s fresh and vivid biographical history ultimately affirms the essential role an independent press of conscience plays in our democracy.” — Booklist
“[As] Gorton reveals, McClure’s magazine (1893–1931) was instrumental in paving the way for reporters to battle corruption and drive change in society.… Readers interested in Gilded Age history and its parallels to contemporary society will enjoy learning about this trailblazing publication.” — Library Journal
“Exciting . . . Stephanie Gorton has written more than a beautifully crafted and original narrative history. She reminds us of the courage and passion that fearless magazine journalists must find once again to reveal the true American landscape.” — Michael Capuzzo, New York Times bestselling author of Close to Shore and The Murder Room
“Citizen Reporters is a vibrant tale of courage and perseverance. With a thorough and steady hand, Stephanie Gorton guides the reader back in time, telling the origin story of America’s long tradition of bold and incisive journalism. Ida Tarbell and S.S. McClure’s inner lives are interwoven in a story of feminism and American reporting that will have a lasting impact on its readers.” — Abby Phillip, CNN White House Correspondent
“In an era newly-conscious of journalism driven by exposing wrongdoing, Citizen Reporters stands as an essential read of America’s long history with reporting on urgent matters of social justice.” — Eliza Griswold, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Amity and Prosperity
“Citizen Reporters is beautifully written, deeply reported, and worthy of its very worthy subjects. Through the stories of S.S. McClure, his star reporter Ida Tarbell, and the writers associated with McClure’s magazine, Stephanie Gorton gives us a fascinating glimpse of a formative time in American history—and reveals the urgent and necessary role played by investigative journalists.” — Louisa Thomas, author of Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams
“Anyone who loves journalism will revel in this story of an unlikely partnership that shaped the media business, helped to define investigative reporting, and showed Americans the injustices and inequities in our midst. We wouldn’t be the country we are today without McClure’s.” — Sasha Issenberg, author of The Victory Lab
"Citizen Reporters offers a fascinating exploration of the adventurous work produced at McClure’s. In Stephanie Gorton’s crisp, fast-moving narrative, we come to know, love, and fear visionary editor S.S. McClure. Even more memorably, we meet top journalist Ida Tarbell, whose stamp on the science and craft of in-depth reporting remains indelible more than a century later. This is a fun, absorbing story with surprises on just about every page." — Earl Swift, author of Chesapeake Requiem
"S.S. McClure altered the realm of magazines while educating the public. Then Ida Tarbell, while breaking gender barriers, altered American democracy for the better. Bravo for Stephanie Gorton for bringing the saga to a new generation of readers." — Steve Weinberg, former executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors
"In an era echoing our own, two trailblazing journalists — one a fearless woman — confront the monied interests and political corruption that distort the fundamental fairness of American society. Stephanie Gorton's beautifully shaped and closely researched narrative shows how the same manic energy that propelled its founder to embrace such a high-risk and pioneering venture ultimately led to McClure's demise. We can be grateful that its legacy lives on." — Peter Stark, author of Young Washington: How Wilderness and War Forged America's Found Father
Maggi-Meg Reed's appealing narration brings listeners into late-nineteenth-century to early-twentieth-century American society, when magazines were an important source of information. One of the most influential magazines was MCCLURE’S, founded by S.S. McClure, whose accomplished staff included journalists Ida Tarbell, Ray Stannard Baker, and Lincoln Steffens. In a steady and engaged tone, Reed delivers the personal and professional chronicles of these noteworthy individuals, as well as a history of the magazine itself. Particular emphasis is placed upon the accomplishments of Tarbell, who was a woman well ahead of her time. Reed ably delivers intriguing anecdotes about S.S. McClure's relationships with literary figures such as Robert Louis Stevenson and Rudyard Kipling. An informative and enjoyable listening experience. M.J. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Maggi-Meg Reed's appealing narration brings listeners into late-nineteenth-century to early-twentieth-century American society, when magazines were an important source of information. One of the most influential magazines was MCCLURE’S, founded by S.S. McClure, whose accomplished staff included journalists Ida Tarbell, Ray Stannard Baker, and Lincoln Steffens. In a steady and engaged tone, Reed delivers the personal and professional chronicles of these noteworthy individuals, as well as a history of the magazine itself. Particular emphasis is placed upon the accomplishments of Tarbell, who was a woman well ahead of her time. Reed ably delivers intriguing anecdotes about S.S. McClure's relationships with literary figures such as Robert Louis Stevenson and Rudyard Kipling. An informative and enjoyable listening experience. M.J. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
