Sensational

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A gripping and thoroughly researched portrait of America’s pioneering female journalists, this vivid social history uncovers the “girl stunt reporters” of the Gilded Age who went undercover to expose corruption and abuse, redefining the roles of women and journalists alike. In the late nineteenth century, these women risked their reputations and safety to reveal the dire conditions many Americans faced. Disguised as factory workers, hospital patients, and lobbyists, they reported on child labor, public health failures, and political corruption. Their compelling narratives made headlines, changed laws, and fueled the labor movement while championing women’s rights. The 1880s and 1890s saw a revolution in journalism as titans like Hearst and Pulitzer competed for readers, discovering that young women seeking fortune in cities could draw in audiences. Nellie Bly’s undercover investigation at Blackwell’s Insane Asylum sparked a wave of sensational journalism, offering women a path to exciting careers. However, after a decade of fame, these trailblazers faced backlash, with “stunt reporter” becoming a term of derision. Despite this, their influence on journalism endured, shaping movements from Progressive Era muckraking to today’s creative nonfiction. Bold and unconventional, these writers transformed storytelling forever.