the practice of searching for and exposing corruption, social injustices, or scandals, especially in investigative journalism

这种扒粪式的新闻报道在揭露社会阴暗面方面发挥了重要作用。

to dig up and publicize scandalous or embarrassing information about someone, often to damage their reputation

候选人在选举期间互相扒粪，试图通过攻击对方的私生活来获胜。