JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Fourth Estate sells out America.

  • Published In: BAVUAL: The African Heritage Magazine, 2026, v. 5, n. 2. P. 9 1 of 2

  • Database: Sociology Source Ultimate 2 of 2

Abstract

The article examines the evolving role of journalism as a public duty versus a profit-driven enterprise. It highlights journalism’s foundational role as the "Fourth Estate," tasked with holding government accountable, supported by constitutional protections affirmed in landmark Supreme Court cases. Historically, journalism shifted from partisan propaganda and sensational "yellow journalism" to reform-minded investigative reporting by muckrakers and major newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post. However, from the 1990s onward, corporate consolidation and the rise of 24/7 cable news, notably Fox News founded by Rupert Murdoch, transformed journalism into a lucrative business influenced by political and commercial interests. The advent of the internet further disrupted traditional media, enabling politicians and individuals to shape public discourse directly, sometimes undermining the press’s watchdog role. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:BAVUAL: The African Heritage Magazine. 2026/04, Vol. 5, Issue 2, p9
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:2769-9110
  • Accession Number:192997597
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of BAVUAL: The African Heritage Magazine is the property of Birkett Communications, Inc and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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