The fourth estate is a collapsed tenement

Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

The term “fourth estate,” often attributed to Edmund Burke, and is used to describe the media’s role in society as a watchdog. It arose from Europe, when the other three estates were the clergy, nobility and commoners. In America, it became an indirect part of our system of checks and balances because it was supposed to be outside of the party lines, which were a dominant aspect of the three partisan branches of government: executive, legislative, and judiciary. It was a way of keeping government honest, but it soon became as corrupt as the institutions it was supposed to monitor.

When I took journalism classes in college in the early 1980s, I was told that the fundamental principle of journalists was to report objectively and honestly. I was told by professors that the most important questions a journalist should ask are who, what, when, where, why, and how. I was told that my own biases should not appear in stories I covered, unless it was an op-ed piece, which is the distinction between reporting news vs espousing opinions in editorial pieces.

According to a Gallup poll in 2019, only 41% of Americans reported that they trusted the media. In 2025 a national media poll done by Emerson College reported that only 19% of respondents had a “great deal of trust” in their local news, 18% had a “great deal of trust” in their national news, and only 11% had “a great deal of trust” in social media. 

The “spinning” of a story has been a term used in journalism for quite some time.  It is a reflection of the media outlet’s view and skews stories in specific directions that favored the editorial positions of the newspaper or network.  I learned of this when I worked as a correspondent for a newspaper in the 1990’s.  I was told by my editor to throw out all the things I learned in college journalism classes (which I’m sure are no longer being taught in leftist college classes) and look for elements of a story that could be used to spin the story that favored the newspaper’s stance on specific issues.

Due to the emergence of social media, the line is now blurred between journalists and influencers. Influencers believe they are journalists and journalists deny being influencers. Yet, this situation is what has led to a lack of trust in the media.  

Fake news used to be relegated to publications that everyone knew were more about entertainment than objective reporting of stories that mattered. I remember passing news outlets in the 1970’s and seeing crazy headlines on the cover of the National Enquirer. In the late 1800’s this kind of journalism was labeled “yellow journalism” because it used sensationalism and lurid details to sell newspapers. Interestingly enough, the highest award for journalists is the Pulitzer Prize, which is named after yellow journalist newspaper magnate, Joseph Pulitzer.  

The term “yellow journalism” went away in the early 20th century and was replaced by “tabloid” journalism, and despite the name change, this bastardization of true journalism still had the same objective as its yellow journalist predecessors: to entertain its readers by printing ridiculous, lurid, and sensational stories about topics like pop culture and crime.

In today’s world of journalism, politics is the target and there are few true journalists who honestly report stories, which is why there is such a lack of trust in the media. We constantly hear of stories being “leaked” to news outlets, and this is because savvy politicians know that they have many allies in the media who will run with stories that haven’t been fact-checked or verified. The truth has taken a backseat to the agenda, and this is the antithesis of the role of the media in a democracy, which is to expose those in power who misuse their positions for their own benefit.

Jake Tapper, who calls himself a journalist, remains on CNN, despite releasing a book that admitted he didn’t do his job in reporting the mental competence of President Biden. There are numerous other people claiming to be journalists who made false claims about this situation, and yet, they are still spewing their lies and deceitful half-truths, but the majority of the public realizes that you could fertilize plants with what comes out of their mouths.

Before Tulsi Gabbard could even finish releasing actual documents to cast accusations at former President Obama and those on his staff regarding their efforts to sabotage President Trump’s first term, left-wing media outlets were concocting numerous excuses to combat these allegations. Real journalists would have investigated before making excuses; however, these so-called journalists were more interested in protecting the man they revered and protected even beyond his years in office.

The half-truths, lawfare and misinformation that were orchestrated by news outlets, commentators, and even late-night so-called comedians to keep Donald Trump from achieving a second term were like a tidal wave of subjectivity, yet the president prevailed, and now that he is in office, those responsible are being exposed. Politicians are running for cover and media members are doing their best to absolve themselves from being willing dupes and conspirators in their role in perpetuating lies to the public.

Unfortunately, there is a segment of the population that is so afflicted with Trump Derangement Syndrome that it keeps the misinformation flowing and those who espouse it employed. They are the consumers of misinformation and if it fits their Trump-hating narrative, they will support it.

As someone who has always believed that freedom and responsibility go hand in hand, I cringe when I see Jessica Tarlov, Ana Navarro and Joy Reid on air and claiming to be informed while misinforming viewers. The only people more ignorant than these individuals are the ones who cut them large checks for spewing excrement and pretending to be journalists.  

Michael Matteo is an educator, produced playwright and screenwriter. He has written or co-written 4 books including one of the first jokebooks to make fun of political correctness.He owned a business for 19 years, and has been teaching for over 30 years.Currently he lives and works as head of the humanities department at private, international school in Chengdu, China.

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