Seattle Newspaper Prepares to Go Online-Only

As was the case last Friday, a major market daily newspaper is reporting on itself and its imminent demise.

Last night, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s Dan Richman reported that some staffers had been approached about contributing to an online-only version of the P-I.

Two reporters said they received “provisional offers” from P-I New Media head Michelle Nicolosi or Hearst executive Ken Riddick. They said they were told they will be given formal offers if the Web site gets the go-ahead from Hearst’s senior management. The reporters wouldn’t give details, saying they had been asked during their interviews not to comment.

The P-I announced earlier this year that it might go online-only if a buyer could not be found for the money-losing operation. That announcement was made January 9. On that day management gave a 60-day window for a buyer to come forward. The P-I is one of two dailys in Seattle. It was founded in December 1863 as the Seattle Gazette.

Join Baratunde Thurston (left), The Onion’s Director of Digital and author of How to Be Black, for an entertaining look at creative social media campaigns in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. Other speakers include Morin Oluwole (Facebook), Tim Devane (bitly), and SocialTimes' writer Devon Glenn.   Register now.