It has become too obvious to ignore that the media’s watchdog function is eroding, and with it, one of democracy’s essential safeguards. Journalism is supposed to act as a counterweight to the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches, a force that exposes wrongdoing, informs the public, and demands accountability. Of course in our days many people, increasingly, see it as biased, noisy, or agenda-driven, a disbelief that is itself a consequence of the pressures and deep challenges the profession faces.
In social theory, the media is referred to as the “Fourth Estate”, the informal fourth power that keeps the other three in check. However, the media "industry" (mind you we keep saying that ours is not a job but a vocation) receives lower pay, less protection, less political support, and far less financial sustainability than any other public-facing authority. If the media is truly the “fourth power,” then it is the only one that society has allowed to fall into disrepair.
The salary figures alone tell a bleak story as young people cannot afford rent and and leave their parents' home. Junior journalists in Greece often earn €700–€1,500 per month, while in Cyprus, some early-career reporters barely reach €16,000 per year. In Turkey, salaries are so low, minimum wage less than €500 that many new journalists work second jobs just to survive. Even in Germany, where conditions are comparatively strong, junior roles still lag far behind corporate sectors. Meanwhile, Big Four firms regularly pay their juniors €40,000–€54,000 per year, demonstrating exactly where society places financial value.
This economic imbalance has a profound psychological impact on young journalists. Many enter the field with idealism but quickly face burnout, instability, and limited upward mobility. They watch peers in tech, finance, and consulting earn multiples of their income with clearer career paths and better working conditions. Under such pressures, the question is where is the incentive for young people to join or stay in journalism?
And we must also acknowledge the uncomfortable truth that many of our problems come from within the profession itself. Journalism has not always adapted quickly to digital realities. Many outlets failed to innovate, resisted modern business models, or clung to legacy systems long after revenue streams collapsed. Younger journalists often feel undertrained, poorly mentored, and pushed into producing rapid, low-quality content to feed algorithms rather than public interest. This internal stagnation contributes to declining trust and weakens journalism’s own foundations.
Yet placing the blame solely on journalists misses the point. They cannot perform watchdog functions without resources, time, or institutional support. A society that expects journalists to defend democracy but refuses to pay or protect them is engaging in a dangerous contradiction. If the "fourth estate" collapses, it will not be because young journalists failed, but because we allowed the system around them to fail first.