Estates in peril

Recently I inaccurately stated the Press (the modern media) was the “Fifth Estate” as quoted from Edmund Burke, famed 18th century orator and political theorist. Based on the feudal European class structure known as the “Estates of the Realm”, he referenced the First Estate as “the clergy”; the Second Estate as “the nobility” and the Third Estate as “the commoners”. Burke went further with the statement: “There are Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporters” Gallery yonder, there sits a Fourth Estate more important far than they all.” He meant the press could hold the other three to accountability.

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Consider Miriam Webster’s definition of the “Fifth Column” as:

“a group of secret sympathizers or supporters of an enemy that engages in espionage or sabotage within defense lines or national borders.”

Many modern media outlets no longer feel it necessary to adhere to journalism’s Code of Ethics. Ethics are described by Dictionary.com as (n): complex moral precepts held or rules of conduct followed by an individual. An ever increasing group of commentators masquerade as objective journalists while creating news with their questioning from the selectively and prejudicial platform of their personal ideologies. They entice controversy through antagonistic interrogation and interaction. This would be similar to goading a subject into making statements detrimental to their personal beliefs. The Preamble to the Society of Professional Journalists Journalistic Standards and Ethics reads:

...public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. (Wikipedia 8-12-2011)

Nowhere does it say they should offer their differentiated and unattributed commentary on any issue. In addition to the above which is representative of the print media, the Radio-Television News Directors’ Association (RTNDA) places their attention on Electronic Journalism. They maintain their Code of Ethics espousing “public trust, truthfulness, fairness, integrity, independence and accountability”. In this time of strictly partisan political rhetoric it’s hard to find ANY news media outlet that doesn’t appear to have an axe to grind. CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, CNBC, New York Times, Newsweek and Time Magazine (and a host of others) broadcast their news reports with a recognizable slant toward liberal politicians and issues. Fox News, The Weekly Standard, any broadcast entity associated with the Murdoch Group is heavily associated with news coverage that’s conservative commentary laced. It all creates a stable platform for society to pick and choose the coverage of issues best suiting them, their predilections and their prejudices. It places them into a comfort zone where they can feel validated in their feelings and assessments of issues. The media doesn’t live in a vacuum. They survive off of the advertising dollars earned as they showcase their clientele during the commercial breaks. It literally pays millions of dollars to have a specific audience profile to draw from. That’s why there are so many different outlets. Viewpoints differ and somebody will find an area being ignored and exploit it. Today we find media acting as guerrilla operatives, selectively creating controversy to capitalize on controversy. It’s the law of the media jungle, the birds must feed the fledglings hungering to dine in the comfort of familiar surroundings, with others of like viewpoint and gorging on the same issues they find important. It’s no different on the left-wing than it is one the right-wing. No matter the bird, it’s still dropping its load on the American public at noon, six & ten. It’s up to the public to wend its way with an umbrella of good sense so they can lose their prejudices and look at issues dispassionately and impartially. Too often the media is biased, jaundiced, saccharine, ingratiating and deferential to any particular issue that helps them feed their nestlings with the foods the prejudiced need to grow. The Fifth Column of Biased Media exists as surely as any guerrilla operation on the planet. Instead of reporting the news they now look to direct/create it surreptitiously. Thanks for listening