Another One Bites The Dust

The Media

Another One Bites The Dust

EMS Artifact

March 16, 2009

SEATTLE — The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, which has chronicled the news of the city since logs slid down its steep streets to the harbor and miners caroused in its bars before heading north to Alaska’s gold fields, will print its final edition Tuesday.

They can blame the recession, the Internet, the price of paper or anything thing else. The truth is that the legacy media is going the way of the buggy whip and for much the same reason. It’s being replaced by a better product.

Not everyone is unhappy about the demise of the Post-Intelligencer.

The death of the P.I. and its “life in death” on the Web is only the second in a trend that will grow. And as the other papers fail into the Web we will hear, again and again, about the Internet, about Craigslist, about The Drudge Report, and a hundred other reasons these papers are dead. What we will never hear is that their editorial policies and news slanting were part and parcel of their demise. We will never hear about the willed insults, slights, and snubbing of fully half of their potential circulation pool. Journalists and editors write a lot about “taking personal responsibility” when it comes to others. You never hear them write that about themselves. There’s no mea culpa among liberal newspaper journalists these days. There’s only “The Internet ate my newspaper.”

And now, a musical interlude.

8 COMMENTS

Mule Breath, March 16, 2009 At 22:45

When the RMN went tits-up they just closed the doors. The P-I at least will attempt to become the first major city rag to offer subscription web content. I have some doubts that they will find much success.

doubletrouble March 17, 2009 At 08:02

and good riddance.Now, when does the Boston (Socialist) Globe go the same route?

TOTWTYTR March 17, 2009 At 08:49

The Globe will linger a bit longer. Carlos Slim gave the New York Times Corp. a loan of something like $220M, at 14% interest. At some point the NYT is not going to be able to meet the note and Slim will get complete control. After that, he’ll cut and cut until he has only the profitable pieces left. Which will not include the Globe. At least we can hope so.

Mule Breath, March 17, 2009 At 21:43

There is no such thing as good riddance of any media venue, most especially a print newspaper. It was the liberal crap printed by early Boston and Philly rags that helped foment a revolution against tyranny. For that I am quite glad, and willing to accept any drivil from any medium.Agree… disagree… doesn’t make a damn. True freedom will die when only things with which I (or you… or TOTWTYTR)agree are printed.

TOTWTYTR March 17, 2009 At 21:56

Sorry to disagree MB, but they’ve made their own bed. By presenting only one side of the debate, obscuring facts not friendly to their editorial positions, and in the last election overtly supporting one candidate over another, they have forfeited their credibility and thus their readership.

Mule Breath, March 17, 2009 At 22:12

I’m sorry too, but not because I disagree with your politics. I disagree that “good riddance” can ever apply to a free press.The P-I was 146 years old, and the RMN was older yet. The Dallas Times Herald died 12 or 14 years ago, and it was arguably the oldest paper in north Texas. Losing a print publication of that age is a loss of American heritage… regardless of your politics.

TOTWTYTR March 18, 2009 At 09:11

Buggy whips.

Mule Breath, March 18, 2009 At 15:03

I suppose it wouldn’t be a surprise to you that I still find buggy whips useful.

8 COMMENTS

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