Salon, the left-leaning news and opinion website that pioneered online publishing, announced Thursday it would shut down after more than 30 years. In an unsigned announcement, the site said the “business realities of independent digital journalism” had changed profoundly and that “our publishing model is no longer sustainable.”
Founded in 1995 by journalist David Talbot as a digital magazine covering books, culture and ideas, Salon was financially backed by Apple, Adobe and the now-defunct bookstore chain Borders. It became known for its politically progressive views and employed well-known journalists including Glenn Greenwald, Joan Walsh and Michelle Goldberg. Steve Kornacki and CNN’s Jake Tapper also worked at the site early in their careers.
The publication was sold in August 2019 for $5 million to entrepreneurs Chris Richmond and Drew Schoentrup, then bought in November 2023 by Find.co, a Malta-based company describing itself as a “performance marketing ecosystem” for crypto brands, for an undisclosed sum. Erin Keane, Salon’s chief content officer, said on Bluesky that the editorial team was told Thursday morning the publication was closed, effective immediately.
Source: New York Times Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing