Salon announced Thursday that it would close after 31 years, citing changes in the economics of independent digital journalism. The online publication, known for political reporting, cultural coverage and commentary informed by a liberal perspective, issued a farewell statement thanking its readers, writers and editors for their contributions over three decades.
The announcement did not explain what would happen to the publication’s employees, although some reported losing their jobs. Salon also did not clarify the future of its online archives, which contain reporting, essays and criticism spanning a range of subjects and events.
Founded in the mid-1990s, Salon emerged during the internet’s early expansion as a consumer medium. It initially presented itself as an online magazine and gathering place for discussion, publishing distinctive commentary and stories that might not have appeared in daily newspapers or established weekly news magazines.
Founder David Talbot said on Salon’s fifth anniversary in 2000 that the internet had provided an opportunity to create a publication with a strong editorial voice. Its contributors included Jake Tapper and Glenn Greenwald. Talbot and fellow former editor-in-chief Joan Walsh later became prominent progressive political commentators.
The outlet expanded beyond culture and criticism into breaking news, including coverage of Princess Diana’s death in 1997. Competition increased as other digital publications entered the market. Slate launched the year after Salon, while established print titles, including The Atlantic, subsequently broadened their online presence.
In its farewell, Salon described its work as examining political power, challenging assumptions and providing space for perspectives it considered overlooked. The statement also emphasized readers’ role in sustaining the publication through subscriptions, discussion and sharing its journalism. Its closure follows a publishing history that began before the downturn in print media and before social networks became major forces in the distribution and consumption of news over subsequent decades.