I was reading a story recently when a term I had never read before popped out at me: The Fifth Estate.
The term, which was used in a Poynter column, encompassed bloggers and aggregators.
“Don’t be dismissive of the bloggers and aggregators who make up the Fifth Estate. Those nontraditional journalists may be the next generation’s Walter Cronkite or Edward R. Murrow,” the article advised.
The article got me thinking.
For years, some people have criticized the media for lacking accuracy, credibility and ethics. The claim was bolstered by the argument there’s no one there to keep an eye on the watchdogs of government. However, now there is a group that is not afraid to speak up.
If the mainstream media makes a mistake or becomes entangled in corruption, the folks in power or the reporting of mistruths, there is a sizeable and independent segment of society that could sound the alarm.
I believe this entity, made possible with the latest developments in technology, could ultimately push the collected press to produce stronger, deeper and more accurate stories — and allow the public to rest assured knowing someone is keeping an eye on their sources for news and information.
