FINALIST FOR THE SPERBER PRIZE FOR JOURNALISM – BIOGRAPHY  A fascinating history of the rise and fall of influential Gilded Age magazine McClure’s and the two unlikely outsiders at its helm—as well as a timely, full-throated defense of investigative journalism in America The president of the United States made headlines around the world when he publicly attacked the press, denouncing reporters who threatened his reputation as “muckrakers” and “forces for evil.” The year was 1906, the president was Theodore Roosevelt—and the publication that provoked his fury was  McClure’s  magazine. One of the most influential magazines in American history,  McClure’s  drew over 400,000 readers and published the groundbreaking stories that defined the Gilded Age, including the investigation of Standard Oil that toppled the Rockefeller monopoly. Driving this revolutionary publication were two improbable newcomers united by single-minded ambition. S. S. McClure was an Irish immigrant, who, despite bouts of mania, overthrew his impoverished upbringing and bent the New York media world to his will. His steadying hand and star reporter was Ida Tarbell, a woman who defied gender expectations and became a notoriously fearless journalist. Through  McClure’s , they cemented investigative journalism’s crucial role in democracy and introduced Americans to the voices of Willa Cather, Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, Joseph Conrad, and many others. Tracing  McClure’s  from its meteoric rise to its spectacularly swift and dramatic combustion,  Citizen Reporters  is a thrillingly told, deeply researched biography of a powerhouse magazine that forever changed American life. It’s also a timely case study that demonstrates the crucial importance of journalists who are unafraid to speak truth to power. “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 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 “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 “Gorton’s fresh and vivid biographical history ultimately affirms the essential role an independent press of conscience plays in our democracy.” - Booklist "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 Strong, well-written, and compelling. . . Extensively researched, the book is written with flair. Readers will find themselves caught up in the story and rooting for the protagonists.” - Christian Science Monitor “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 "Smart and illuminating." - Washington Post "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] 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 “[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 “