20世纪早期的进步主义时代是美国历史上重要的社会改革时期，黑幕揭发运动是进步主义改革的先声。作为黑幕揭发运动的载体，媒大众体——对社会改革起到了重要作用。新闻记者林肯·斯蒂芬斯是市政腐败揭发中最为杰出的代表。他对市政腐败的无情揭露促进了普通市民对社会弊病的了解和改革意识的觉醒；对三位一体的腐败联盟的详细分析，令保守派民众意识到自身的问题，有利于打破变革的僵局；对市政腐败精神源头与出路的思考，推动人们从根源上反思治理市政腐败的症结。通过对斯蒂芬斯的研究，可以看出大众媒体对社会改革的巨大推动作用。

It is an important social reform period in American history at the beginning of the 20th century, shady involuntary movement is the first sound of progressive reform.Media public body, played an important role for social reform,as a carrier of shady involuntary movement. Journalist Lincoln stiffens, are among the most outstanding representatives of the municipal corruption exposure. His ruthless revealed on municipal corruption contributed to the ordinary citizens' knowledge of social ills and reform the awakening of consciousness; Detailed analysis of the trinity of corruption in the league, the conservative people aware of their problems, to break the deadlock change; For municipal corruption spiritual source and way of thinking, to promote people to reflect the crux of the governance of municipal corruption from the source,Through the study of Stephens.