Which estate is the media commonly known as?

Concept

In the traditional estates-of-the-realm model, the First, Second and Third Estates represented the clergy, nobility and common people.

The term “Fourth Estate” developed as a metaphor for the press and news media, highlighting their influence, public-information role and scrutiny of institutions.

Application

The question asks for the conventional estate-name applied to media. That convention maps media to the Fourth Estate.

Contrast

• First Estate refers to the clergy in the traditional model.

• Second Estate refers to the nobility in the traditional model.

• Third Estate refers to common people in the traditional model.

Cross-check

Indian public authorities such as TRAI and the Press Information Bureau explicitly describe media or the press as the Fourth Estate.

Result

Therefore, the media is commonly known as the Fourth Estate.