I posted earlier today about a non-answer I received from a Hearst Corporation spokesman in response to two questions about his company’s plans for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Here’s a third question, which I’ve asked of both Hearst Corp. and The Seattle Times Company—and can’t get answered by either:

Is Hearst going to make, or has it already made, the $1 million payment that it needs to deliver by Feb. 1 in order to secure a “right of first refusal” to buy The Seattle Times if the Blethen family ever puts the Times up for sale?

February 1 is Sunday. If Hearst hasn’t made the payment, and doesn’t by the end of the day on Sunday, that could add a million reasons to believe the company’s professed disinterest in buying the Times. (Or it could just mean that Hearst thinks it doesn’t need the “right of first refusal” anymore—because who else would want to buy the Times right now?) On the other hand, if Hearst has made, or does make, the payment—well, that suggests a very serious interest in being absolutely assured that it’s first in line if the Blethen family ever decides to sell.

Eli Sanders was The Stranger's associate editor. His book, "While the City Slept," was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. He once did this and once won...

7 replies on “The Million Dollar Question”

  3. Eli:

    Better check again. Hearst already *has* the right of first refusal for any sale of the Times.

    I’m told by a reliable source that Blethen has been begging Hearst to take the Times off his hands. Hearst has probably been stalling to drive the price down.

    Seattle will be well rid of this sociopathic, dog-shooting little prick and his stupid children.

  4. Correct – as it was earlier this week when this first appeared in the Weekly. But keep bringing us those great no-comment comments!

    BTW, I laughed out loud at the Joel item: one reporter telling another reporter there is no news to report, which you reported anyway.

  5. I like to comment on reports of reporters reporting there is nothing to report. Whoa, I have to sit down. Wait, I’m sitting already. Whoa.

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