Fourth Estate - Final Episode

Television (Full Length) – 1988

In this episode of Fourth Estate, journalism lecturer Brian Priestley ruefully brings down the curtain on state TV's media commentary show. After 12 years of scrutinising newspapers, radio, magazines and TV, Priestley offers parting awards for "the most memorable people, programmes or papers since 1976". He also gently snipes at the decision to can his show (which he points out still rates as well as Miami Vice). While full of praise for the achievements of some outlets and journalists, Priestley sees a difficult future ahead for a media under threat from trivialisation and superficiality.

It compliments people’s intelligence. It compliments thinking people. I think, apart from the news, it is the most important programme on TV because, if you like, it is democracy in action.
– Brian Priestley in The Listener, 30 March 1985, page 14