The Fourth Estate Uproar : Public Interest Vs. State Interest

News organizations that report on stories in a fair, balanced and ethical manner are essential to the functionality of this nation. A citizen’s ability to make well-informed decisions hinges on a news organization’s ability to relay the most accurate information regarding the state of the nation, the changing condition of communities, and adjustments in the government. Journalism is no longer a one-sided conversation. Journalism is an interactive process that allows for readers and viewers to create a dialogue with journalists by utilizing mediums such as social networking sites and comment sections. Audiences have a say in what stories get reported and how news stories are presented to the masses. When news organizations fail to cover all

Consequently, the political sphere is now being colonised by the media, and politics has begun re-orientating itself to satisfy the logic of media organisations (Meyer, 2002, p. 71). Therefore, the media are active participants in the policymaking process and the ability to stimulate change or maintain the status quo depends on their choice of subject or policy issue and how they frame it. Active investigative reporting attempts to shape policy outcomes, but this does not necessarily mean that it always represents the most successful approach for gaining policy changes (Spitzer, 1993, p. 7). In fact, sometimes passive, straight reporting can have a greater influence on policy choices. When this occurs, media independence is largely bypassed, as the news generated depends solely on the information released (as public relations material) from legitimate news sources. For example, in the United States, White House staff routinely make ‘leaks’ - expressively to influence policy decisions (Davis, 1992, p. 143; Robinson, 2001, p. 948). Robinson noted that journalists regard “leaks… as indispensable to their work” and that they are aware of their use by officials in return for scoops (2001, p. 949).

The Fourth Amendment was added on December 15, 1791, and ensured that it would protect citizens from arbitrary invasions, unlawful detainments, and a citizen’s right to privacy in the United States. Throughout modern America, the Fourth would should up in various landmark court cases around the country and establish itself as one of the most fundamental rights a person can possess. Citizens have the right to feel safe in their homes, as well as being safe around their own town, but what would happen if you were not at your residence and police wanted to search your home? This can be seen in the court case Weeks v. United States.

Due to the results of the Leveson inquiry, much has changed for the ways in which the British Press must work within the parameters of Media law. The inquiry has left much of the public untrusting and suspicious of journalism as a practice, and after the publishing of Leveson’s report, it is as though they are just waiting for another slip-up by media institutions.

Ever since the 17th century, the newspaper has been produced and blown out of proportion, known as mass media. George A. Krimsky shines his own opinion in his essay, “The Role of the Media in a Democracy.” Krimsky provides many examples, reasoning, and rhetoric devices to expand his argument even more, his argument being that; the press should send out straight facts, let people interpret them, and allow the free press to hold the government accountable.

In article 8, Michael Parenti challenges the view that the mainstream media in the United States is free, independent, neutral and objective. Parenti claims that the media “often behaves like the lapdogs of Plutocracy”. Plutocracy is a government that is basically controlled and ruled by the wealthy in that country. Essentially what this means is that the media is run by these giant wealthy corporations and instead of media doing its job, and informing the general public, instead it only says what these corporations want them to say. Hard hitting news that shines a negative light on these wealthy groups is banned because it makes them look bad. One of the best pieces of evidence he offers is the slew of reporters that have been fired or forced

On the surface, politics is engaged with the provision of service to the public but in reality, it is merely concerned with maintaining and attaining power. Victoria Pitts’ documentary Leaky Boats (2011) shows the events of the 2001 ‘Tampa Crisis’ and how the Australian public was persuaded to perceive refugees as a threat to society. As shown through the visual representation in part A, Pitts conveys how politics and media work through tactics of sensationalism and fear mongering to manipulate the Australian public sentiment. Politics is demonstrated as a callous disregard for the public and their right to know the truth behind political actions.

The Fourth Amendment originally enforced the idea that a man’s home is his castle and should be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures of property by the government.

The Constitution of the United States’ protection of properties can be attributed to its reactionary nature: rebellion against the monarchical tenets and the taxation attacks of British government. With Adams’ and Madison’s efforts and models, the Executive Branches were formed; a checks and balances system of members elected of the people, by the people, and for the people. With the fathers’ agenda set on preventing revolution as formulated in Adams’ observation of monarchical or oligarchical governments, and the desire to own freely without governmental meddling or intervention, any accusation of the primacy of the elite as the basis of the Constitution is fouled. A person is as much a despot for being financially affluent as a poor person must be for not being so. Absolutes do not exist.

Common Sense opens with a statement asserting the purpose of government which is to exist in opposition to society’s tendency to fall to corruption through the vices of individuals. Whereas society gives into pleasures, government acts as a set of regulations to ensure the well-being of all (Paine 74). This government, which comes from the people and serves the people, must fill the role that “moral virtue” cannot. According to Paine, this is precisely where England’s constitution proves to be lacking. The English constitution depends on the moral proclivity of one individual, and this leaves the well-being of inhabitants in jeopardy. Paine abhors the concept or belief in moral authority flowing down from and passing down from a king and his progeny (Paine 84). Contesting the established American governmental dependence on the British, Thomas Paine exclaimed that the rights of man cannot be allowed to be dependent upon the mercy of a king, a single man. Therefore, where does the

Constitutional Issue at Stake: The ideals of the fourth amendment were at stake in this issue, it’s purpose

The disbursement of accurate information is vital for the sustenance of a healthy democracy. It ensures that its citizens are equipped to make responsible, informed decisions pertaining to matters that affect their daily lives. In the United States, the media is referred to as the fourth estate or fourth branch of government (alongside the legislative, executive and judiciary branches). The media has been used as a conduit to broadcast local, state-level, federal-level and international government and social affairs. It may also be used to endorse campaigns, report misuses of

“The media are a primary source of those pictures in our heads about the larger world of public affairs, a world that for most citizens is ‘out of reach, out sight, out of mind’ and what we know about the world is largely based on what the media decide to tell us” (McCombs).

In the career of journalism, the main role of being a journalist is to serve the people by providing information needed to allow the people to determine for themselves what events or news may impact their life. Unfortunately this task of journalist does not always meet the expectations that we the people hold due many journalism discrepancies, including the news media tendency to follow the pattern of the Authority Disorder Bias. This bias is when blame is placed on the authority figure(s) when an event or scandal occurs that is negative. The developer of the bias pattern is scholar Lance Bennett, defines the Authority Disorder Bias pattern in news media in his book “News: The Politics of Illusion” in which he describes that “there is bias in placing so much news focus on the largely emotional questions of Who 's in charge? and Will order be restored?” He states that this “greater volume of criticism of government, politicians, and their policies, and less focus on the substance of policies” can cause a large impact on the way the people interpret their government and make personal decisions such as who to vote for in an election.

"Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one." This quote by A.J. Liebling illustrates the reality of where the media stands in today's society. Over the past twenty years there has been an increase in power throughout the media with regard to politics. The media's original purpose was to inform the public of the relevant events that occurred around the world. The job of the media is to search out the truth and relay that news to the people. The media has the power to inform the people but often times the stories given to the public are distorted for one reason or another. Using slant and sensationalism, the media has begun to shape our views in society and the process by which