Seattle Post-Intelligencer Employees Told Jobs May End Next Week

Reuters:

NEW YORK, March 10 (Reuters) - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has told employees they might lose their jobs as soon as next week after a deadline for Hearst Corp to sell the newspaper passed on Monday.

Hearst, which also may close the San Francisco Chronicle if the paper cannot cut costs, has not yet decided what to do with the Seattle paper, the Post-Intelligencer reported on its website on Tuesday.

Read the whole story: Reuters

Comments

[TommyObama]

I read the PI from 1987 to 2000 while I lived in Seattle, and always enjoyed their gutsier writing style. Susan Paynter was a master of journalistic verse, with not just the desire, but also the talent, for championing the cause of the little guy and calling out avarice where it reared its head. And in booming 1990s Seattle, it reared its head alot.

While the Times had Emmet Watson and Jean Godden nattering on about silliness, the PI would address whatever Seattle's powers had swept under the carpets. They'll be missed; we just don't know how much, yet.

[ashabot]

Sad. I grew up with those papers. I really hate to see them go. One by one, the monoliths are biting the dust.

[paulfromportland]

So sad - Two of my first stops in the morning are the P-I and the Chronicle - The P-I, with David Horsey the wonderful political cartoonist, Art Thiel of Sports, Ann Lovejoy, Marty Wingate and Marian Bernetti of their exemplary gardening section will be sorely missed. Have left out a few others - At least the wonderful Emmitt Watson didn't witness this mess. The right wing trolls who frequent the columns by Connelly and the cartoon work of Horsey love to crow about the closing. Yet, they have been provided with an unrestricted platform to spew their venom. So, Seattle will be left with the right wing rantings of the Seattle Times and it's editor's eternal cries against the so-called and misnamed "death tax" Seattle and the Pacific North West deserves far better. Michelle Malkin wrote for the Times, when she lived in Seattle. Need I say more?

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

Nothing lasts forever. "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!' When I was child in the fifties, the P.I. was just another Hearst rag, but I read it for the sports and the comics. In the past 30 years, the P.I. came to reflect the progressive spirit of Seattle. It will be missed.

I think some of these sinking papers could save themselves if they downsized and went tabloid. They would be easier to carry and they would broaden their market and could still retain a few serious reporters, but they seem stuck in their old ways. So now, the sands of time will cover them as they did Ozymandias. Where have you gone Royal Broughm?

[paulalex]

I really hope they can continue online. I've been reading the PI for several years and recently been reading it online exclusively since I now have my laptop with me pretty much continuously.

To be honest, if the print edition had stopped two years ago I wouldn't have noticed.

Come on Post Intelligencer, keep giving us the news, including the Saturday edition wit the editorials which is my favorite.

Maybe we can have our own Sunday edition, with a Sunday Spin, now that the Seattle Times isn't involved.

[Downix]

They were told consolidation would solve their woes. The problem they found was that consolidation did nothing to help them maintain focus, and instead bundled their problems together. Newspapers are hurting, but time and again, what I read are that the giant corps behind them are hurting, and they're squeezing these media outlets to get the blood they want.

So, PI owner, how much are you asking that shutting the doors is preferable? You cannot be asking a realistic figure if such a scenario is approaching, as giving away the paper for the cost of the material sale would cost you less than the layoff and shutdown scenario.

[sueno]

I "feel" for Sea-town and the lost of the P.I.-
I've known many who worked for the paper and
I was a faithful reader in the past.
I hope that the P.I., can somehow rebound,
having free media available to citizens is important
and maybe the people there can figure out
a grass-roots way to save it-

[bigjohnstud]

Sad news indeed. I have read the P.I. everyday for the last 30 years. Great newspaper.

[THISTLE]

As someone who has worked for several major newspapers, I am very sad to see so
many newspapers vanishing. The daily newspaper is the ultimate symbol of freedom
and stability. It's that friend we thought would always be there. It is a sad commentary
to see what is happening - major cities without their morning newspapers. It's clear
that the newspapers where not ready for the Internet, plus a sinking economy that
drove advertisers away. Some large groups of investors should come forward to
save the newspapers, what does that say about a society that lets newspapers
disappear?

[theredqueen]

My morning coffee won't be the same. Also my morning walk along The Sound where I see the distinctive globe in the near distance. What a shame to see it's demise.