Newspapers' deal indicates P-I may become tabloid

[flamingyouth]

A new agreement between The Seattle Times Co. and The Hearst Corp., signed Sunday to settle a four-year legal dispute, includes a hint that Hearst might change the Seattle Post-Intelligencer to a tabloid format.

The settlement agreement takes the form of a new joint operating agreement (JOA) between the companies, to replace one signed in 1999. Hearst owns the P-I.

The new document, like the old one, says The Times cannot change the P-I to a tabloid without Hearst's permission. However, it adds these new sentences:

"Hearst may, however, at its discretion choose to move the P-I to a tabloid format. In such event, Times and Hearst shall agree upon such production, marketing, circulation and advertising accommodations and adjustments as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to effectuate the P-I's change in format."

Newspapers in tabloid format generally are believed to appeal to a different market than traditional "broadsheet" newspapers — the smaller size appeals to bus or rail commuters, for example. The greater emphasis on the possibility of a tabloid P-I may be a bid to increase revenues to the JOA, which The Times has said has not been profitable since 2000.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003669873_joaweb18.html