As we prepared to tape KCTS 9 Connects this morning, we were scrambling a bit as news of the Boeing layoffs and the move by the Hearst Corporation to place the Seattle P-I up for sale were made public. We were hoping to include Joel Connelly on the show to talk about the P-I but we were unable to reach him. We now know that Joel and his colleagues were getting the difficult news from their management. If no buyer is found, there’s a chance the P-I will become an online operation or will be closed down. For sure, the P-I in newspaper form will go away.
We discuss the P-I story in our roundtable discussion tonight with Austin Jenkins of Northwest Public Radio, Republican strategist Randy Pepple and Democratic strategist Cathy Allen. All lament the loss of the P-I. I think Cathy put it best in noting that while she and other political types didn’t like being cast in a negative light in some of the newspaper’s reporting, they at least appreciated its place in our democracy as a watchdog for the public good.
We know that the loss of the P-I as a newspaper is business. But it hurts especially in these tough economic times. It hurts those who work there and care about journalism. And most of all, it hurts our community which will lose an important voice.
Comments
Posted by Guest (not verified) on Sun, 01/11/2009 - 3:21pm
Although I love the Seattle PI building (especially the spinning globe), I must say that I rarely read the newspaper or the Seattle Times. Clearly, the paper with the best local coverage is The Stranger. Case and point, last election cycle, the most detailed and in depth local coverage was in The Stranger. Next was the King Country Library web site which even pointed to information on judges which is normally difficult to find. Based on my limited to exposure to both Seattle PI and Times, the PI clearly has the better local coverage, However, The Stranger has the best local coverage. If we ever lost The Stranger, we will have truly lost a journalistic independent local voice.
Posted by Kim S. (not verified) on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 8:50pm
Enrique- I was deeply moved by tonights episode of KCTS connects concerning Marcellis' mom who sadly passed away. I am concerned that it was not explained how health insursurance, or lack of, contributed to her passing. It was only reported that she passed. Can you explain to me the part of her passing that was related to health insurance? Thank you in advance, Kim.
Posted by enrique cerna (not verified) on Mon, 01/12/2009 - 12:53pm
Kim,
Jenny Cunningham, who produced the story, will post a reponse to your question.
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