|
PAPER CURRENCY: Paper usually issued by the national government that are used as money. Metal coins are also frequently included under the generic heading of currency. Currency in the U.S. economy is issued by the Federal Reserve System (paper) and the U.S. Treasury (coins). This constitutes about 30 to 40 percent of the M1 money supply. Most modern currency is fiat money.
Visit the GLOSS*arama
|
|

|
|
                           FOURTH ESTATE: Another term for journalists, reporters, and other members of the media. This is one of four divisions of society based on economic function. The other three are government as the first estate, businesses as the second estate, and consumers as the third estate. The notion of dividing society into different "estates" has roots in 18th century France, in which clergy and religious leaders were considered the first estate, royalty and aristocracy were the second estate, and peasants, serfs, and the working class were viewed as the third estate. Inventive journalists extended this classification to include themselves as the fourth estate.The modern estates retain the essence of this division with an update to the realities of the modern economy. Government leaders and politicians, rather than clergy, assume their position in the first estate. Business leaders, rather than royalty, take over rule of the second estate. Rank-and-file consumers and those in the working class make up the third estate. And journalists continue as the fourth estate. The journalist, reporters, and other media representatives of the fourth estate keep a watchful eye on the 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 have 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. Consider the case of Marvin Dunklemeyer, a reporter for the Shady Valley Gazette Tribune Journal. Marvin is eager, rebellious, inquisitive, and highly suspicious. He has conducted investigative reports into the questionable employee health and safety conditions in the Mona Mallard Duct Tape factory, questionable campaign contributions to Mayor Victor Thurgood's most recent election effort, and questionable influence by the OmniBank on the Shady Valley real estate market. Marvin Dunklemeyer is a member of the fourth estate.
 Recommended Citation:FOURTH ESTATE, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2025. [Accessed: July 18, 2025]. Check Out These Related Terms... | | | | | Or For A Little Background... | | | And For Further Study... | | | | | | | Related Websites (Will Open in New Window)... | |
Search Again?
Back to the WEB*pedia
|


|
|
BLUE PLACIDOLA [What's This?]
Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time searching the newspaper want ads looking to buy either a wall poster commemorating the first day of winter or blue cotton balls. Be on the lookout for rusty deck screws. Your Complete Scope
This isn't me! What am I?
|
|
General Electric is the only stock from the original 1896 Dow Jones Industrial Average remaining in the current index.
|
|
"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses those skills to accomplish his goals. " -- Larry Bird, basketball player
|
|
GSP Gross State Product
|
|
Tell us what you think about AmosWEB. Like what you see? Have suggestions for improvements? Let us know. Click the User Feedback link.
User Feedback
|

|