Fourth estate

/fˈɔːθ ɪstˈeɪt/

/fˈoːɹθ ɪstˈeɪt/

Fourth estate

the news media or journalism profession as a societal institution that acts as a watchdog, providing independent scrutiny and holding the other three branches of government accountable

Examples

1. It’s the Fourth Estate.

2. We're definitely witnessing the tabloidization -of the fourth estate.

3. We need a media that is the fourth estate, not for the state.

4. I'm a little bit more skeptical than Anne-Marie about the idea of making the Fourth Estate, the pensioner of the of the state itself.