The P-I is Seattle’s oldest daily newspaper, dating back to 1863. Unless

September 24, 2012 12:00 am
On Friday, January 9, Steven Swartz, president of Hearst Newspapers--the paper's owner -- told the staff that the P-I was for sale, and would be closed if a buyer wasn't found. He did leave open the possibility of retaining an election version of the paper at SeattlePI.com.
On Friday, January 9, Steven Swartz, president of Hearst Newspapers--the paper's owner -- told the staff that the P-I was for sale, and would be closed if a buyer wasn't found. He did leave open the possibility of retaining an election version of the paper at SeattlePI.com.

The P-I is Seattle’s oldest daily newspaper, dating back to 1863. Unless a buyer is found, the newspaper could cease publishing as early as March. In this week’s cover story, Rick Anderson listens in as the staff hatches plans, the suits huddle, and a digital future looms.Published on February 24, 2009

William Randolph Hearst purchased the paper in 1921. The Hearst Corp. -- publisher of publications such as Cosmopolitan -- has owned it ever since.

William Randolph Hearst purchased the paper in 1921. The Hearst Corp. — publisher of publications such as Cosmopolitan — has owned it ever since.

Recently, Hearst told its Bay Area paper, The San Francisco Chronicle, that it would be sold if employees didn't agree to concessions.

Recently, Hearst told its Bay Area paper, The San Francisco Chronicle, that it would be sold if employees didn’t agree to concessions.

Since 2000, when the Times went head-to-head with the P-I as a morning paper, the P-I's circulation has dropped from 191,000 to 114,000.

Since 2000, when the Times went head-to-head with the P-I as a morning paper, the P-I’s circulation has dropped from 191,000 to 114,000.

The Times' circulation has dropped from 219,000 to 199,000.

The Times’ circulation has dropped from 219,000 to 199,000.

This is not the first time the P-I's future has been in limbo. The Times and P-I battled over their Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) in court for four years until a settlement was reached in April, 2007. Editor and publisher Roger Oglesby called the settlement a new lease on life -- a nine-year lease.

This is not the first time the P-I’s future has been in limbo. The Times and P-I battled over their Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) in court for four years until a settlement was reached in April, 2007. Editor and publisher Roger Oglesby called the settlement a new lease on life — a nine-year lease.

On his possible post Post-Intelligencer career, sports columnist Art Thiel says, I was also thinking of a career teaching English for English Speakers. Spell-checker aside, I get stupefying e-mail from doctors, professors, government officials, and I say 'My gosh, I could help these people!

On his possible post Post-Intelligencer career, sports columnist Art Thiel says, I was also thinking of a career teaching English for English Speakers. Spell-checker aside, I get stupefying e-mail from doctors, professors, government officials, and I say ‘My gosh, I could help these people!

Theil says of the newsroom: Everybody's got a different level of anxiety.

Theil says of the newsroom: Everybody’s got a different level of anxiety.

I've been on this ship long enough that I'll stay with it and try to keep it afloat, says political columnist Joel Connelly, 61, a P-I writer since 1973. If she sinks and I'm set free, I will go off to (his cabin on) Whidbey (Island) and think about an outlet for my work.

I’ve been on this ship long enough that I’ll stay with it and try to keep it afloat, says political columnist Joel Connelly, 61, a P-I writer since 1973. If she sinks and I’m set free, I will go off to (his cabin on) Whidbey (Island) and think about an outlet for my work.

I'm headed off to vacation to (Mariners) spring training in Arizona, March 12-17. The most likely D-Day for the P-I appears now to be March 18. I have a premonition of coming back and being greeted at the door by a line of guys who look like they work out a lot.

I’m headed off to vacation to (Mariners) spring training in Arizona, March 12-17. The most likely D-Day for the P-I appears now to be March 18. I have a premonition of coming back and being greeted at the door by a line of guys who look like they work out a lot.

Although the Times boasts a larger press run, SeattlePI.com has consistently drawn more unique monthly visitors than its cross-town rival, averaging around 2.5 million to the Times' 2 million.

Although the Times boasts a larger press run, SeattlePI.com has consistently drawn more unique monthly visitors than its cross-town rival, averaging around 2.5 million to the Times’ 2 million.

That Hearst, or another owner, is willing to fund the experiment, is yet to be known.

That Hearst, or another owner, is willing to fund the experiment, is yet to be known.