“Been there, done that” doesn’t make the video of the Hearst Corporation announcement in the newsroom of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that the newspaper will likely be closed in 60 days any less painful. It’s hard to watch, like a replay of the announcement made in the Star-Bulletin newsroom back in September 1999.

A column in Crosscut.com, a Seattle online news site, captures the feelings.

It’s hard to be the guy who tries to hide his rage, disappointment, and disbelief in order to comfort the afflicted in the wake of top-down fiats and bottom-line decisions. It feels like shit.

And, I hate to say, but it’s going to feel worse because there’s a sliver of hope: the paper has a 60-day window to find a savior, but if Hearst doesn’t have the deep pockets, if even the New York Times is on the brink, if even papers that are monopolies in their towns are struggling, like Hearst’s San Francisco Chronicle, if the media meltdown is spreading like a new kind of Ebola that causes newspapers to bleed from every pore, the hope is slender indeed.

But that thin hope and the professionalism of the staff demands that in the meantime, they do their jobs under incredibly difficult circumstances. Day after day for at least 60 more days. Guys like McCumber will have to keep people going who see their lives flashing, he will have to get the best out of them without the ability to control their fate or make any promises. He will have to keep them focused and energized with no reward to offer but the work itself, a chance to go out with guns blazing, flags flying.

Here’s a proposal by former Post-Intelligencer reporters for salvaging something from the P-I by going through an online transition. Step Number 1:

1) Show Hearst the door: Any plan for preserving the P-I will require the community’s wholesale support. Hearst doesn’t have it. Announcing its intention to sell the paper, then refusing to answer questions from the staff, puts the company right up there with Clay Bennett in the ranks of out-of-town owners. Hearst doesn’t want to be here. Let’s grant that wish.

Yesterday Gannett announced a company-wide program of mandatory 1-week furloughs, but an email circulated here says it does not

From: “Webber, Lee”

Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:59:29 -0700

To: Honolulu-All
Conversation: Notification and Clarification

Subject: Notification and Clarification

Aloha

Attached is a letter from Robert J. Dickey, President, U.S. Community Publishing explaining the Gannett, company-wide furlough program.

You will also receive an E-mail from Craig A. Dubow, Chairman, President and CEO concerning this program as well.

I wanted to personally notify each of you that this program does not impact The Honolulu Advertiser employees at this time.

Our negotiations with union officials are planned to resume on January 26th as we work toward the most viable solutions for us all here at the Advertiser.

We are and must remain Hawaii’s #1 source for news and information in this ever changing information industry and turbulent business environment.

We can and will do just that.

Mahalo,

Lee Webber
President & Publisher

But you can sing along with the Gannett Blog:

Fur-lough, Fur-lough
It’s off from work we go

Let’s see. Derrick DePledge reported Linda Lingle’s latest comments on gambling in the Advertiser’s The Notebook blog, then adds:

“Meanwhile, John Radcliffe, one of the state’s top lobbyists, was at the state Capitol today wearing a stylish, gambling-themed shirt. And a broad smile …”

It’s also good to remind ourselves that this debate has happened during earlier economic downturns as well.

Testimony presented at yesterday’s legislative briefing on the recent island-wide blackout is available online.

And just for fun, check out these amazing photos.