Furious Seasons

March 16, 2009

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Closes Tomorrow

Everyone knew this was coming: Tuesday's edition of the wonderful Seattle Post-Intelligencer will be its last as a newspaper, ending a 140-year plus run. Seattle now becomes a one-newspaper town, although the financial status of the Seattle Times is pretty shaky.

The P-I will continue as an online-only product, but with only 20 reporters (likely younger ones who can handle the pay cut) and editors, meaning that about 130 people are being laid off by the paper's publisher, Hearst. I know some of these people, just talked to one of them in fact.

I'm so crushed, not just for the paper, but for the impending end of print journalism in the US. My career is over, so are those of many thousands of others and the Internet really isn't a replacement. Meanwhile, the federal government is letting AIG pay millions in bonuses to Wall Street crooks.

It all makes sense!

Posted by Philip Dawdy at March 16, 2009 12:50 PM

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Comments

Your career isn't over, it has shifted into the 2.0 realm; thus the blog, and the reader-funded support(the most successful fundraiser yet just happened, remember?).

If I remember correctly, this blog has had some chit-chat about how you could make a go of journalism on the web, knowing print papers were closing down.

A lot of people would be envious that you were able to take your craft, and remain a journalist/writer and receive a self-employeed income to boot.

Times change, and you're ahead of the others in your industry by having this blog that's only a little over 3 years old.

So get your boots on and keep on kicking pharma's ass!

Posted by: Stephany at March 16, 2009 02:35 PM

A moment of silence for the Seattle P-I....

Posted by: Lilly NC at March 16, 2009 02:57 PM

Philip,

You're career isn't over - it is just beginning. And, you have a head start on figuring out how to make this newfangled mosaic actually work.

Scary times, to be sure (though I have been known to confuse anxiety and excitement). The balance between hype and nostalgia is very hard to strike. I know these writers are a bit optimistic and giddy, but I really want to believe there is hope in this upheaval:

http://www.shirky.com/weblog/2009/03/newspapers-and-thinking-the-unthinkable/

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=c84d2eda-0e95-42fe-99a2-5400e7dd8eab

We'll figure this out - Remember, you are not alone!

Posted by: Jonah at March 16, 2009 10:38 PM

I agree with Stephany and Jonah.
You're career is not over.
Things are changing. Let's wait for the better.

Posted by: Ana at March 17, 2009 12:10 PM

The change at Seattle Post Intelligecer is a good thing for Seattle, and for Hearst. Developing a viable news model for on-line reporting is important to future readers and society. Read more at http://www.ThePhoenixPrinciple.com

Posted by: adam hartung at March 17, 2009 07:15 PM