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Muckraker

Album: Gold Audio 11: It's Another Fine Day

Episode: 143

Lesson/Theme: Handling power responsibly.

Bible Verse: Proverbs 6:16,19

Characters: Lucy, Connie, Whit

Writer: Paul McCusker

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: February 2, 1991

Last Air Date: July 17, 2008

Description:
Lucy is hot on the trail of a great story for the Odyssey Owl. Apparently, the Calvin Bloom Company, a maker of fine skin and hair products, has been putting a harmful green dye in their Accu-Gel shampoo, despite the Food and Drug Administration's ban on it. Lucy talks with Calvin Bloom's public relations director, Mr. Norton. Norton tells her that the company has fully complied with government regulations. But Lucy has already come across a former Calvin Bloom employee who disagrees. This informant has told Lucy that Calvin Bloom continues to use the green dye. The person also informs Lucy about 'a lot of other things going on out there that people need to be warned about'. Lucy is excited about her scoop. She writes a defaming article about Calvin Bloom's alleged cover-up. She is proud of her work, until Mr. Norton informs Lucy that her informant was fired for cheating on her time cards. The woman used Lucy to get back at the company. Lucy is stunned and upset. She writes a retraction, which the Owl prints, and learns a difficult lesson about the power of the printed word and the importance of wielding that power responsibly.

Questions:
Why was Lucy so eager to uncover a story about the Calvin Bloom company? How should Lucy have handled what Miss Sadler told her? Why is the written word such a powerful thing?