It is supposed to be the conscience-keeper of the nation. During the last couple of decades, American Media has become an embarrassment to the world. The print media is not such a disaster as the radio and television. The latter two are the audio and visual medias, having a much larger exposure to the population. Both have been divided between Liberals and Conservatives. To call the ‘NBC Universal’ a liberal net-work is a disgrace to the Progressive and Liberal movements. Similarly calling ‘Fox News’ a conservative net-work is equally insulting. CNN on the other hand does not know where it wants to go.
The ‘Fourth Estate’, “this phrase was originally used as a synonym for newspapers. But with the advent of radio, television, news magazines, etc., its meaning has been broadened to include all of what is known as the mass media.” For details read “The Fourth Estate” by Donna L. Quesinberry. During the days of Edmund Burke (1729-97) “there were three Estates in the Parliament”. The three being, The Monarch or The President, The Legislator or The Parliament and the third being the Head Priest. The reporter or the media became the Fourth Estate.
In the contemporary world, the role of the Fourth Estate or media, is not only to keep an eye on the government but also to inform the people about the important issues of the nation and the world. Right after the Executive, the Legislator and the Judiciary, the media has become the fourth leg of a modern democracy. How would you rate the ‘Emerging World’ on all these four accounts? What is the status of ‘Mass Media’ in Brazil, China, India and Russia? Is there a stifling censorship in all these emerging countries? If any of these countries or others like Japan, South Africa, Mexico and Iran, want to emerge as Great Powers, they need to think about these four pillars of a Great Democracy. Besides these four pillars, Universities (the great centers of learning), are the next most important institutions for an Emerging Super Power.
Filed under: International Tagged: | American Media, Brazil, Censorship, China, CNN, Conscience Keeper, Conservatives, Donna L. Quesinberry, Edmund Burke, Emerging Super Power, Emerging World, Estates in Parliament, Executive, Fourth Estate, Fox News, Great Democracy, Great Powers, Head Priest, India, Iran, Japan, Judiciary, Legislator, Liberal Movements, Liberals, Mass Media, Mexico, Modern Democracy, Nation, NBC Universal, net-work, News Magazines, Newspapers, Progressive, Radio, Russia, South Africa, Stifling, Television, The Fourth Estate, The Legislator, The Monarch, The Parliament, The President, The Reporter, Universities
Pavan,
Thank you for referring to my eBook, The Fourth Estate. I concur with you – it is surprisingly disappointing at times when the press isn’t standing up to the reality of their estate; however, there appears to be some recent reversals of the proclivity to be under-involved. Unfortunately, a handful of individuals own the majority of the press and television simultaneously – and of that handful there are a few who own the majority of the “most highly regarded” press/television vehicles. When agents of the press (whether in print or televised) work for conglomerates who own all of their potential employment perspectives – I assume a sense of obligation is invoked, certainly the reality of work and the ethics of labor play key roles therein. But…we must too recognize those individuals who go to the extreme to report on real life and they give up their lives to commit to The Fourth Estate. It seems to be a two-edged sword where truth and reality are not the easiest measures of the word.
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.