Keep in mind that Scripps' MO with shutting down papers is 24 hours notice. They announced the Birmingham Post-Herald was closing the day before it did.
We really don't know what Hearst will do because they haven't really shut a paper like this. They've either won the paper war in the town (Houston) or acquired the stronger paper and sold (San Francisco) or closed (San Antonio) the weaker one.
The last time they closed a paper was the New York Journal American, and even then they really just spun it into the New York World Journal Tribune, which collapsed under the weight of its own masthead within months. Best I can tell, since WR Hearst died and the will was settled, they haven't closed a newspaper.
Whether they close in a day or a week we just don't know. But if you go by the Scripps model, the last day is always a Friday. In fact, most papers tend to close on a Friday.
Hearst's handling of this situation is just atrocious for both readers and PI staff. It's one thing to shutter a hometown newspaper of the most-read city in the U.S., and then another to do it in a way that keeps loyal readers and staff playing a guessing game of when exactly a 137-year legacy of journalism gets put to bed.
No matter how inevitable it may be, this is a sad sad chapter in Seattle history.. First the Sonics, now the P-I...... I'm starting to wonder what the hell is left of Seattle, anyway..
And, yeah, #5 nails it... Hearst could have done better....
We really don't know what Hearst will do because they haven't really shut a paper like this. They've either won the paper war in the town (Houston) or acquired the stronger paper and sold (San Francisco) or closed (San Antonio) the weaker one.
The last time they closed a paper was the New York Journal American, and even then they really just spun it into the New York World Journal Tribune, which collapsed under the weight of its own masthead within months. Best I can tell, since WR Hearst died and the will was settled, they haven't closed a newspaper.
Whether they close in a day or a week we just don't know. But if you go by the Scripps model, the last day is always a Friday. In fact, most papers tend to close on a Friday.
Oh, wait, no ... sorry ... that was Frank Blethen's memory.
Wonder how that got in my mind ...
Soon to be followed, I am afraid, by the forced closure of the Times. This depression sucks.
And, yeah, #5 nails it... Hearst could have done better....