I can tell you that the press sometimes looks at HN for material, anyway. Several years ago I made a comment on HN, and it got seen by someone at the New York Times who asked me to write an opinion piece based on it: https://www.rosshartshorn.net/stuffrossthinksabout/nyt_opini...
But, "the press" is normally considered to be content generated by people doing that for a living (albeit not necessarily a good one), and most HN contributors do other things for a living.
There's no standard definition of what constitutes the press.
Now, if the question is some flavor of: Do Hacker News posts and comments enjoy First Amendment protections generally described as "freedom of the press?" Absolutely.
The press isn't a special class under 1a; "or of the press;" in the First Amendment simply means you're free to write and publish -- not just speak -- without interference from the government.
You seem to be approaching the question as something related to censorship. That's not what I meant.
From a less legalese definition of "The Press", and a more of a social function one, what do you think? Let's assume a hypothetical scenario where censorship is not something to worry about (in this hypothetical scenario, it is not being applied and also not a general concern of the population). Down to the basics, what is supposed to be. What would be your thoughts on it?
It is an important part of the world's media ecosystem.
Like much of the rest of the serious (not pure entertainment) part of the ecosystem, its importance might decline soon as AI services get better, but I have seen no signs of that yet.
It is unclear if you see it as a press-wannabe that doesn't quite live up to expectation, or if you see it as something beyond press that is meant to replace it.
I used "media ecosystem" instead of "press" because I do not care to get involved in any attempt to define "press".
I don't see HN as not living up to expectation.
I do think that it has partially replaced older media institutions in the battle for the attention of and influence on influential and informed people.
Readit News
But, "the press" is normally considered to be content generated by people doing that for a living (albeit not necessarily a good one), and most HN contributors do other things for a living.
Perhaps I should have been more inquisitive. Would you say that HN serves the same social purpose as the press?
Now, if the question is some flavor of: Do Hacker News posts and comments enjoy First Amendment protections generally described as "freedom of the press?" Absolutely.
The press isn't a special class under 1a; "or of the press;" in the First Amendment simply means you're free to write and publish -- not just speak -- without interference from the government.
From a less legalese definition of "The Press", and a more of a social function one, what do you think? Let's assume a hypothetical scenario where censorship is not something to worry about (in this hypothetical scenario, it is not being applied and also not a general concern of the population). Down to the basics, what is supposed to be. What would be your thoughts on it?
Like much of the rest of the serious (not pure entertainment) part of the ecosystem, its importance might decline soon as AI services get better, but I have seen no signs of that yet.
It is unclear if you see it as a press-wannabe that doesn't quite live up to expectation, or if you see it as something beyond press that is meant to replace it.
I don't see HN as not living up to expectation.
I do think that it has partially replaced older media institutions in the battle for the attention of and influence on influential and informed people.