What is the media or press referred to as?

The media or press is often referred to as the "fourth estate" or "fourth branch of government". This term originated in 19th-century Britain and was coined by Thomas Carlyle in his 1841 work "On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and The Heroic in History". Carlyle used the term to describe the power and influence of the press, which he saw as a check on the other three branches of government (the legislative, executive, and judicial branches). The term "fourth estate" suggests that the media plays an essential role in society and that it has a responsibility to hold those in power accountable.