Seattle Post-Intelligencer
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| Type | Daily newspaper |
| Format | Broadsheet |
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| Owner | Hearst Corporation |
| Publisher | Roger Oglesby |
| Editor | David McCumber |
| Founded | 1863 |
| Headquarters | 101 Elliott Avenue West Seattle, WA 98119-4220  United States |
| Circulation | 126,225 Daily[1] |
| ISSN | 0745-970X |
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| Website: seattlepi.com | |
The daily Seattle Post-Intelligencer is one of two daily newspapers in Seattle, Washington, United States, the other being the Seattle Times. The P-I is widely perceived to be more liberal than the Times. It has a daily circulation of 126,225 as of October 2006.[1] It is well-known nationally for its editorial page, especially its editorials and political cartoons.
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[edit] History
The P-I, Seattle's first newspaper, was founded on December 10, 1863 as the Seattle Gazette by J.R. Watson.[2][3] The paper failed after a few years and was renamed the Weekly Intelligencer in 1867 by the new owner, Sam Maxwell. The Intelligencer merged with the Seattle Post in 1881, this being the origin of the present-day name.[3]
Circulation stood at 31,000 in 1911.[2]
William Randolph Hearst took over the paper in 1921. The Hearst Corporation owns the P-I to this day.[3]
On December 15, 2006 no copies were printed as a result of a power outage caused by the December 2006 Pacific Northwest storms. It was the first time in 70 years that publication had ceased.[4]
[edit] Joint Operating Agreement - "JOA"
Since 1983, the P-I and The Seattle Times have been run under a "Joint Operating Agreement" (JOA) whereby advertising, production, marketing, and circulation are run for both papers by the Seattle Times Co. They maintain separate news and editorial departments. The papers put out a combined Sunday edition, whose circulation is 469,853, to which the P-I contributes only a few pages of editorial content.
In 2003 Times tried to cancel the JOA, citing a clause in the JOA that three consecutive years of profit losses were cause for cancelling the agreement. Hearst disagreed and immediately filed suit to prevent the Times from cancelling the agreement. Hearst argued that a force majeure clause prevented the Times from claiming losses in 2000 and 2001 as reason to end the JOA, because they resulted from extraordinary events (in this case, a seven week newspaper strike). Each side publicly accused the other of attempting to put its rival out of business. The trial judge granted a summary judgment in Hearst's favor on the force majeure issue. But after two appeals, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Times on June 30, 2005, on the force majeure clause, reversing the trial court judge. Now, the case goes back to the trial court to try the facts involved in several other causes of action in Hearst's suit.[5]
[edit] Awards
The P-I is notable for its excellent political coverage, its tradition of outstanding columnists and its two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist, David Horsey. Editorally, the P-I is seen as more liberal than the Times, endorsing Al Gore over George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election. However, both papers endorsed John Kerry over George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election.
[edit] Report on Judge Gary Little
Notable investigative reporting on King County Superior Court Judge Gary Little's out-of-court contact with juvenile defendants revealed accusations that Little molested young boys while he was a teacher at Seattle's exclusive Lakeside School between 1968 and 1971. It also revealed inappropriate contact between Little and juveniles appearing before him after he became a judge. On 19 August 1988, after reporter Duff Wilson called the judge to advise him the newspaper was publishing the story, Little shot himself in the King County Courthouse. The ethical debates surrounding the publication of the story – and the network of connections that protected Little – are taught in journalism classes across the country, and led to reforms in the way judges are disciplined in Washington state.
[edit] Conduct Unbecoming series
In 2006 the PI was the subject of a complaint to the Washington News Council for its reporting on the King County Sheriff's Office. The media watch-dog group ruled against the PI, agreeing with Sheriff Sue Rahr's complaint that the newspaper had unfairly disparaged the Sheriff's Office.[6] The PI declined to participate in the proceedings, and opted instead to give a detailed reply on its website.[7]
[edit] In popular culture
The 2003 film The Ring features a protagonist, played by Naomi Watts, who is a reporter at the P-I.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Daily newspapers circulation decline, by Eric Pryne of the Seattle Times
- ^ a b Character of P-I's content changed as Seattle grew up Post-Intelligencer editorial
- ^ a b c Intelligencer newspaper founded in Seattle in 1867, a HistoryLink.org essay
- ^ Power outages caused by the windstorm stopped the presses for both Seattle’s daily newspapers, Adam Lynn of The News Tribune
- ^ The Seattle Times - Hearst lawsuit brief
- ^ Council rules against P-I over sheriff's complaint, The Seattle Times
- ^ The King County Sheriff's Office controversy outcome, the P-I editorial
