Considering a Framework for How the Supreme Court Should Conceptualize the Press Clause of the First Amendment in the Network-Society Era

The dissertation examined how the Supreme Court should interpret the press clause of the First Amendment in the context of the Internet, which has enabled anyone to become a publisher, challenging traditional views of the press. Using David Altheide’s qualitative document-analysis process, the study analyzed lower-court rulings, Supreme Court decisions, and theoretical perspectives on communication in a democracy. It proposed that courts should focus on the process of message composition and delivery, aligning with existing jurisprudence and philosophical views on the press's role in a democratic society, while also considering the unique dynamics of communication in the network era.