Sunday, April 17, 2011

The Fourth Estate


First of all, what is the fourth estate? This term refers to the press, or news media, which represents the fourth branch of government in the United States.


Why would Congress allow the press a permanent voice in society by labeling them a part of the government? The reasoning was to create an informal check on the government and if they were doing their job properly. This makes the fourth estate a very important part of government, and even more important to the public as their position benefits and supports the people. By checking if the government is doing their job, the people will be satisfied and taken care of, leading to less of a rebellious nation including riots. Basically, the press is seen as a watchdog overlooking crucial decisions and actions the leaders of the country take, which explains their significance.

No comments:

Post a Comment