Since Edmund Burke, the fourth estate has traditionally been regarded as one of the classic checks and balances in the division of powers. It is widely agreed that the fourth estate is the public press, referred to as a collective and encompassing photographers, journalists, television broadcasters, and radio announcers, among others.
Many people generally agree that the fourth estate has immense political and social power, thanks to the fact that the press can be used to shape societies while imparting news of note and commentary of interest. Because the fourth estate is recognized as such an important body, many nations have laws to protect the rights of the press and ensure that citizens have access to reporting on matters of interest and of note.
Because of the importance of journalism in society, most members of the fourth estate abide by certain professional and personal ethics. Many journalists attempt to cultivate an air of neutrality, focusing on reporting of the issues as they are. Therefore, people can judge the facts for themselves, while others focus on offering commentary and analysis from the perspective of a particular position.
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