Economic Definition of fourth estate. Defined.
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Term fourth estate Definition: The journalist, reporters, and other media representatives who keep a watchful eye on the evil-doings of the first and second estates and hopefully provide valuable information to the consumers, workers, and taxpayers of the third estate. However, in that news and journalism has become, along with other businesses, a mega-gadzillion dollar industry, many fourth estate watchdogs have become card-carrying members of the second estate (and some even the first estate). As such, some journalists are more concerned with protecting and promoting business and government interests than consumer interests.
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