This is an in-depth case study of a joint operating arrangement (between the "Seattle Times" and the "Seattle Post-Intelligencer") and its impact on the five surrounding daily newspapers in its market. The study examines this impact in the context of ten factors in the market, including suburbanization and direct mail. The author focuses on three major topics - circulation, advertising and staffing - to see how they have changed. The study looks at changes to see if they have an impact on the market and on the traditional role of newspapers, which is to provide information and ideas necessary for civic intelligence.