Do newspapers or can newspapers influence opinion?

The Palace of Westminster is understandably fascinated by the way in which media tycoons such as Mr Murdoch appear to have more influence on public affairs than any individual member of the legislature

says Dominic Lawson writing in todays Indy.



Dominic also gave evidence to the House Of Lords committee and tried to make the point that

it is not self-evident that the political line taken by newspapers is a decisive influence on public opinion.

He harks back to the time before columnists when

There was a time when there was very little opinion in newspapers, aside from that expressed by the editor through the dominant leader column – and many senior staff journalists would be solely employed in endlessly debating what should appear in it.

and that

even when that collective voice is at its loudest and most hectoring it cannot change the policy of the government of the day, if that government is completely determined to stick to its chosen path.

Are the days of the fourth estate over then?