Seattle JOA Deal Challenged -- Will One Paper Close?

By: Seattle's two daily papers settled their dispute last month over their joint operating agreement.

But a third party, the Committee for a Two Newspaper Town, is asking a judge to disclose some of the details that have been kept secret.

The committee fears The Seattle Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer have an agreement to eventually close 1 of the papers.

In the deal announced in April, the Times agreed to pay PI owner Hearst $$24 million and to continue the joint operating agreement for nine years.

Hearst has the first right to buy the Times should it go on sale.