WHEREAS, Seattle's first newspaper, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, was founded in 1863 and has invigorated our democracy, fought public and private sector corruption, nourished the cause of fairness and equality, and elevated our state's public dialogue about critical issues; and
     WHEREAS, The newspaper's talented, eclectic, and dedicated writers were its soul, and the Seattle P-I's historic significance flows from these ink-stained women and men and their uncompromising pursuit of the truth, of democratic values, and of stellar, inspired writing; and
     WHEREAS, The Seattle P-I both informed us about compelling issues that affected the people of the Pacific Northwest and challenged various institutional bullies and heavyweights regardless of the outcome; and
     WHEREAS, The staff of the Seattle P-I won Pulitzer Prizes and other distinguished awards that reflected the newspaper's honorable pursuit of the public interest; and
     WHEREAS, It is in the public interest of Seattle, Washington state, and the nation to have a vigilant, independent media industry as was epitomized by the Seattle P-I and other such truth-seeking organizations; and
     WHEREAS, Though the iconic globe atop the Seattle P-I's waterfront headquarters represents a new generation of news and information technology, the Seattle P-I will forever represent the best ideals of an engaged citizenry and world class journalism regardless of form;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of Washington recognize the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's distinguished history of service, its legacy as a platform for debate, investigation, and public information, and its role in having breathed life into the civic culture of the Pacific Northwest.