'P-I' In the Sky? Seattle's 'Two Newspaper Town' Group Wants Answers from Hearst

Posted Monday, February 2, 2009 12:00 am

By: A group devoted to keeping two daily newspapers in Seattle says it wants some answers from Hearst Corp.

Hearst, the parent company of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, announced early last month it would shut the P-I down or let it continue as an Internet-only operation with a vastly reduced staff.

The Committee for a Two-Newspaper Town sent Hearst a letter Monday, saying that efforts to save the P-I have been taking place behind the scenes, but people need to know first what Hearst intends to do.

The group also asked whether, if the P-I goes Internet-only, its joint operating agreement with The Seattle Times would remain in effect, and whether Hearst recently made a $1 million payment to maintain its right-of-first-refusal to buy The Times if it's put up for sale.

Hearst says it's reviewing the group's letter.

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'P-I' In the Sky? Seattle's 'Two Newspaper Town' Group Wants Answers from Hearst

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