Is Media a Fourth Branch of Government ?

I have often pondered upon and wondered why the Media has so much control and influence. What makes their information right? The older I get the more it becomes obvious they have a lot of power and influence in which they should not have. The Illuminati engineer and manipulate people and masses through using the media. There evil influence and social engineering has got out of control. Where I work a co-worker of mine everyday expresses how much he hates the media and how the media leaves many important issues out. I told my co-worker how the world really works, he says no that's a conspiracy, this man says it's a conspiracy because the media said so. This is the same man who hates the media. Does this not tell you how much control the media has over people's minds?