Salon, a left-leaning publication known for its sharp political and cultural commentary that showed what online journalism could look like before most mainstream outlets entered the space, is closing up shop after 31 years.
In an unsigned farewell announcement on Thursday, Salon pointed to the profound changes in the economics of independent digital journalism and said its publishing model is no longer sustainable.
“Salon was never just a website,” the announcement said. “It was an idea about what journalism could be, born at a moment when the internet was still a largely unexplored frontier.”
The shuttering highlights the rapidly-shifting economics of digital media, where even established publications are contending with massive declines in traffic. Search and social media have upended how outlets attract readers. Artificial intelligence search overviews, which allow audiences to bypass clicking links, are now doing the same. In this landscape, longevity and editorial influence no longer guarantee financial survival.
Launched in 1995 by then-San Francisco Examiner editor David Talbot, Salon was an early experiment in digital publishing without a print offering. It went public four years later and went on to cultivate a sizable readership. Prominent journalists who got a foothold in media through the website include CNN anchor Jake Tapper, NBC News’ Steve Kornacki, The Intercept founder Glenn Greenwald, The Nation national affairs correspondent Joan Walsh, who served as editor-in-chief of Salon for five years.
The site also played a starring role in Nora Ephron’s 2009 feature Julie & Julia as the home blog of Amy Adams’ Julie, who pledged to cook all of Julia Child’s cookbook in a year.
Like many other media outlets, the site saw a massive decline in traffic in 2016 after then-Facebook changed the social media platform’s news feed algorithm to prioritize posts from family and friends over publishers. In 2023, Find.co acquired the website from its previous owners, Drew Schoentrup and Chris Richmond. The privately held media company bills itself as a marketing operation revolving around crypto brands. Its portfolio includes CCN, Webopedia and CryptoManiaks.
Salon’s Thursday post didn’t mention what will happen to its immense archive. On Bluesky, Salon chief content officer Erin Keane said it will “stay live for now.”
