Salon to close after 31 years online
The influential liberal website announced its shutdown on Thursday, affecting 19 full-time staff members.
By Justin Brooks ·
Salon, a foundational site of early internet journalism, will shut down after 31 years of operation. The announcement came on Thursday and surprised many in the digital media world. The outlet cited changing business conditions for independent digital journalism as the primary reason for its closure.
Nineteen full-time employees have lost their jobs as a result of the decision. A spokesperson for the outlet confirmed that a handful of private contractors were also affected. The company did not immediately provide details on how it would handle severance or other transition support for its staff.
In a farewell note published on its website, the outlet described its end as a privilege. The unsigned message stated that the publication had brought together politics, culture, and criticism in a distinct way for over three decades. It claimed its journalism examined power, questioned assumptions, and gave space to overlooked perspectives.
Salon launched in the mid-1990s, just as the World Wide Web was becoming mainstream. It started as an online magazine that offered a home for provocative opinions that did not fit in daily newspapers or major newsweeklies. Founder David Talbot said in 2000 that readers were tired of bland media products and the internet allowed for something with a strong voice.
The site quickly attracted high-profile writers who went on to become famous figures in media and politics. Jake Tapper and Glenn Greenwald both wrote for Salon early in their careers. Two of its editors-in-chief, Talbot and Joan Walsh, later became prominent progressive political voices in their own right.
Competition for online readers grew rapidly as the internet expanded. Slate launched the year after Salon and soon other online magazines followed. Traditional print publications like The Atlantic began moving content online, increasing the volume of digital journalism available to readers. Salon expanded its coverage beyond culture and criticism in 1997 when it began covering breaking news, including the death of Princess Diana.
The outlet told the Associated Press that it has no immediate plans to take down its online archives. The collection includes three decades of stories covering global events, culture, and ideas. The site will remain accessible to readers and researchers for the time being.
The farewell note included a direct message of thanks to the publication's audience. The company said readers came to Salon for essays, criticism, and dialogue. It noted that reader engagement, sharing, and subscriptions helped make the site a community and gave the work meaning. The outlet expressed gratitude for the time readers spent with the publication.
