fifth estate

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The term "Fifth Estate" has no fixed meaning, but is used to describe any class or group in society other than the clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), the commoners (Third Estate), and the press (Fourth Estate).^[1] It has been used to describe trade unions, the poor, and organized crime. It can also be used to describe media outlets that see themselves in opposition to mainstream ("Fourth Estate") media. The term is entirely different in origin and meaning from "Fifth Column", which is used to describe subversive or insurgent elements in a society.

Nimmo and Combs assert that political pundits constitute a Fifth Estate.^[2] Media researcher Stephen D. Cooper argues that bloggers are the Fifth Estate.^[3] The American periodical Broadcasting once proudly proclaimed itself to be "The Fifth Estate" on its cover.^[4]

The Fifth Estate newspaper began in 1965 as an alternative bi-weekly publication of left-wing politics and the arts in Detroit, Michigan, as part of the so-called "underground press" movement of oppositional papers. It continues publishing today with editorial collectives in Detroit; Liberty, Tennessee; New York City; and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Its usage of the name was the first in the modern era and the editors have attempted to discourage other media outlets from adopting the name, but to no avail.^{[citation needed]}

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation airs a newsmagazine called "The Fifth Estate" on its English language television network. The name was chosen to highlight the program's determination to go beyond everyday news into original journalism.

Notes

1. ^ Random House Dictionary
2. ^ Dan D. Nimmo and James E. Combs (1992). The Political Pundits. Praeger/Greenwood. pp. 20. ISBN 0275935450. 
3. ^ Stephen D Cooper (2006). Watching the Watchdog: Bloggers as the Fifth Estate. Marquette Books. ISBN 0922993475. 
4. ^ Asa Briggs and Peter Burke (2005). A Social History of the Media: From Gutenberg to the Internet. Polity. pp. 154. ISBN 0745635113. 

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