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Fifth Column
Source: Seattle P-I To Be Sold Or Closed
2009-01-09
KING 5 news has learned that Seattle may soon become a one newspaper town.

Like many newspapers across America the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has been struggling to survive.

Now, a source close to the deal tells KING 5 that the paper's owner, Hearst Corporation, will announce as soon as tomorrow that it's putting the P-I up for sale. Under the joint operating agreement between the P-I and The Seattle Times, the P-I must be offered for sale for at least 30 days before it can cease operation.

The joint operating agreement was formed in 1983 in an effort to keep both papers healthy. The P-I was granted a monopoly on morning publication. At that time The Seattle Times was one of the only profitable afternoon papers in the country.

But in 1999 the joint operating agreement was modified to allow the Times to begin publishing in the morning. Critics predicted that would eventually lead to the demise of the P-I.

We're told Hearst does not expect another buyer to step forward and that Seattle will likely become a one newspaper town within the next few months.

A call to the Seattle P-I publisher's office for comment has not yet been returned.

It would be the end of an era - the P-I put out its first edition in 1863 and was the city's first newspaper.

It's unclear how this will affect The Seattle Times or the Blethen family, which owns 51 percent of that paper.
This would be a fine acquisition for a wealthy, conservative Republican. Say Rush Limbaugh.
Posted by:Anonymoose

#9  They should take up a collection and buy the rag then.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2009-01-09 17:21  

#8  For a real kickinthepantz; read all the tear jerking libtards' swooning in the 'sound off' column attached to the original story ( so many that you need 2 pages to hold them all)
Posted by: USN, Ret.   2009-01-09 17:10  

#7  "Anyone who would buy a newspaper today and expect it to be profitable is probably certifiably insane."

Jeebus Keeriste ! Why didn't you tell me this 2 years ago? Who Knew ?....Sam Zell (boyhood genius and realty scion of foreclosed property)
Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2700   2009-01-09 09:41  

#6  The Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "Intelligent as a (fence)post!"
Posted by: Mike   2009-01-09 08:55  

#5  So long. Don't let the dustbin of history hit you on the ass on the way out.
Posted by: DarthVader   2009-01-09 07:16  

#4  NYT, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Baltimore Sun - the so-called "DINOSAUR MEDIA" BRONTOSAURUS is down on its fore legs, but still trying to stay up wid its rear legs and tail. NOT GONNA BE PRETTY, OR QUIET.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-01-09 00:36  

#3  Bulldoze the building and salt the earth it stood on. Good riddance, Puget Pravda!
Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo)   2009-01-09 00:31  

#2  Anyone who would buy a newspaper today and expect it to be profitable is probably certifiably insane.
Bye bye Seattle P-I...
Posted by: tu3031   2009-01-09 00:26  

#1  That would so kick ass.
Posted by: badanov   2009-01-09 00:22  

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