In general, the term Fourth Power or the Fourth Estate is used in relation to the press and modern news media on the basis of their ability to frame and advocate political and social issues. Initially described by Thomas Carlyle in 1841, it was created in order to emphasize the considerable power of writing in the context of democracy when any person has a right to express his or her opinion (Shaya, 2012). However, in the present day, the description of media as the Forth Estate is frequently used for the expression of people’s mistrust of news coverage and journalists.
Although, it has promised to ennoble, instruct, conduct, and entertain its audience exclusively from the position of objectivity and truth, media has currently distorted the main principles of its role being used by the business or government in their interests (Shaya, 2012). In general, the government relies on news media to inform citizens and communicate with people both within their country and across the globe. At the same time, it may control news and contribute to media bias. In the digital age, truth frequently loses its significance, and fake news are published by media that has a significance influence on individuals in order to persuade and manipulate the audience.
In fact, all authors of articles and films admit that the current purpose of media considerably differs from its intended roles. According to McIntyre (2018), alternative facts, feelings, and personal opinions in favor of large companies and governments replace actual objective facts and evidence. The power of the media does not imply its ability to uplift, inform, enlighten, and inspire the audience, as the Forth Estate is currently used to mislead the audience, control viewers and readers, arouse hostility, provoke conflicts, and hide the power’s machinations (Shaya, 2012).
Journalists follow the agenda of authorities and create confusion “on factual matters through nothing more than bogus skepticism” (McIntyre, 2018, p. 81). In addition, withing a framework of the competitive environment, the press and news agencies focus on insignificant events instead of serious global issues to satisfy the public’s demands and get profit. The Forth Estate probably remain its position of the world’s mirror, however, it focuses on people’s negative features, form their characters, and reflects selectively to present another global picture.
At the same time, there are differences between the sources of information provided for the analysis. According to Shaya (2012), the influence and power of media are substantially exaggerated, and it does not have large, measurable, and direct effects on public opinion. In turn, Media Education Foundation (2018) the immeasurably strong influence of media on the audience in the digital age when news are available from any device at any time and in any place. In addition, the whole empire of fake news controls people’s perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and views.
In addition, not all authors mention the homogeneity of media and the absence of journalists and agencies that value truth and evidence. In their documentary, Amer and Noujaim (2019) address the reveal of Cambridge Analytica’s illegal activities by the journalists of multiple international publications. At the same time, McIntyre (2018) writes about reliable and honest media, “the guardians of traditional journalistic values,” that aim to uphold the truth, as well (p. 85). However, these sources currently face considerable criticism for the absence of alternative positions or undesired, though evidence-based information.
References
Amer, K., & Noujaim, J. (2019). The great hack [Film]. The Othrs.
McIntyre, L. (2018). Post-truth. The MIT Press Essential Knowledge.
Media Education Foundation. (2018). Digital disconnect: Fake news, privacy and democracy [Film]. Web.
Shaya, G. (2012). The myth of the Fourth Estate. Lapham’s Quarterly. Web.