Posted by
AJH on Monday, January 12, 2009 6:11:01 PM
The recent news that the Seattle P-I (Post-Intelligencer) is in deep financial trouble and about to be jettisoned by owner Hearst Newspapers is a bit of sad news from my neck of the woods. I always considered it a better paper than The Seattle Times.
The Times was just inferior looking and also in reporting in my opinion, although recently I discovered that The Times has a greater readership, at least in subscribers, and by a significant margin, which I found surprising. The P-I website has a brief “biography” of the paper. I have always preferred it's hard-edged, more serious design and layout than its competitor. The Times seemed to want to please people too much. On the other hand, the P-I was the one to do investigations and real, important journalism, at least this was my perception.
One of the great landmarks of the city is the gleaming P-I globe sitting atop the offices of reporters and editors just west of the Space Needle. It reminds me of Superman and Lois Lane's beloved Daily Planet. I would be wandering about the city and inevitably run across it from time to time, tucked away so newcomers and tourists would stumble upon it, often overshadowed by its towering, domineering downtown neighbors. Yet, it was always shining brightly in its neon glory. (Apparently a local company, wristbandfactory.com, has already inquired about it and wants to place a bid. Personally I would like to see it featured publicly as it is, perhaps at Pacific Science Center or the Experience Museum.)
P-I cartoonist David Horsey discusses the history of the Northwest institution and his views of its probable demise on his blog.
AJH