A discourse on the "separation of powers" and "checks and balances" branch of

government - the Media - that is not funded by taxpayers' dollars or provided

government offices in the nation's capitol like the other three branches of government,
namely, the Congress, President and the Supreme Court.

What is the media? In this discourse media is defined as mass communication

or communicating with and for the masses. This is done mainly by
newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the internet. A significant part of
the "mass media" is what is commonly referred to as the "news media."
What is the government? Abraham Lincoln described the nature of the
government in the Gettysburg Address in these words, "government of the
people, by the people and for the people." In a word government is law. Law is
basic and may be sublime, especially when it is based on natural law or
derived from the Higher Law. Law is about relationships and the rights of
individuals...that one person's rights end where another person's rights begin.
The Federal Government preempts state rights, notwithstanding, the all too
common rhetoric about the pseudo sovereignty of state rights. However, the
Federal Government permits states rights when that seems to be politically
expedient. It does not permit a state to declare war on a foreign nation. The
Federal Government reserves that right for herself. The Federal Government
is composed of three branches of government. They are mandated in the U.
S. Constitution as Congress which is authorized to make laws, the Supreme
Court which is authorize to interpret or declare the meaning of laws, and the
President who is responsible for enforcing the laws. These three branches of
government are characterized by "separation of powers" and "checks and
balances" that are designed to prevent any branch of the government from
abusing its powers.
This writer does not intend to give a detail discussion of the government but
rather to show that the media is not less powerful than the three branches of
government and the important role it plays in a democratic society. The media
is people communicating...with their government. Oftentimes the media
provides the people with information about their government and the things
that the government should be concerned about that otherwise would not be
available to them or their government. The media is a conduit for people to
listen to and communicate with their governmental officials, inform, praise and
criticize them.

As indicated earlier, even though the media is not included in the U. S .

Constitution as a branch of the government, noticeably, the First Amendment
to the Constitution states that "Congress shall make no law...abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press." This is to say the media is free, no less
than the people. "Who are the people if not their words?" Pause and think for
a moment about the things that would not be known, the abusers who would
not be brought to justice and the services that would not be provided for "we
the people" if it were not for the media.
While it is true sometimes the media, like the three branches of government,
commit unacceptable acts, and like the branches of government can be
checked by them, it is vital for the health of society. There are times when the
media prevents the three branches of government from operating singularly or
in complicity to violate the U. S. Constitution and hence betray the trust of the
people they are sworn to represent.
Americans, this is our challenge: support the media. The media has rights that
include her right to access informnation - doings and misdoings - of the
Congress, President, and the Supreme Court. This includes the right to
televise proceedings of the Supreme Court. Of all governmental entities the
highest court in the land should have nothing to hide and, moreover, be eager
to set an example of esteeming transparency in conducitng the people's
business for lower courts and people in general to follow.
Let "we the people" esteem the media, no less than we do the three
branches of government, and demand that she has an equal standing with
them and full access to the information about their government that people
have a right to know. How else will the people know except the media tells
them? How else will governmental officials hear the people except the media
let them know?
Will you join with me and declare: "The Media is the Fourth Branch of
Government?" Take this step to move "we the people" toward a more perfect
union.
Copyright 2008 by Uriah J. Fields

What is the media? In this discourse media is defined as mass communication

or communicating with and for the masses.

the First Amendment to the Constitution states that "Congress shall make no
law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."