estate of the realm

The Chronicle would like to call on state actors to respect journalists as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, and that the media has come to symbolise a segment of society that has an indirect, but key role, in influencing the political system.

We don't even stop to ask why throughout the Western world, the media is accepted as the "fourth estate of the realm".

'So, what exactly as far as you know as members of the fourth estate of the realm, that Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, a presidential candidate, cleared by INEC to bid for power, who had opportunity to ask Nigerians to vote for him, now Nigerians have voted, the votes have been counted and he was not a favoured candidate, what does he want now?

He indicated that being the fourth estate of the realm and considering the huge contributions they make to national development, especially their watchdog role, it is important that employers took the welfare of journalists seriously.

After all, the Western media accept that they are the "Fourth Estate of the Realm", which means they are the fourth arm of the State or Establishment (the three others being the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary).

To make matters worse, the judiciary has been seriously handicapped while the press, the Fourth Estate of the Realm, is in chains.

According to the Guild, 'The Fourth Estate of the Realm remains the watchdog of society and any attempt to gag it in any guise is an affront on democracy and the people.