Salon Shuts Down After 31 Years, Citing Unworkable Economics
The veteran digital news outlet is ceasing publication, leaving its massive archive online but its future ownership unclear.
By Grace Almasi ·
Salon, the left-leaning digital publication that pioneered online journalism in the 1990s, is closing after 31 years of operation.
In an unsigned post released on Thursday, the site announced it is ceasing publication because the business model for independent digital news is no longer sustainable.
The outlet cited a fundamental shift in how readers access information. Search engines and social media platforms have changed the flow of traffic, while artificial intelligence overviews allow users to get answers without clicking through to news sites.
These changes have eroded the revenue base for established outlets. Even publications with long histories and strong editorial voices are struggling to maintain financial stability in the current market.
Salon launched in November 1995 under the leadership of David Talbot, then editor of the San Francisco Examiner.
It was one of the first major news sites to exist without a print edition. The company went public in 1999 and built a large readership over the following decades.
Many prominent figures in media began their careers at the site. CNN anchor Jake Tapper, NBC News correspondent Steve Kornacki, and The Intercept founder Glenn Greenwald all started there. Joan Walsh, a correspondent for The Nation, served as editor-in-chief for five years.
The site also gained cultural visibility in 2009 when it served as the setting for the home blog of the main character in the film Julie & Julia, starring Amy Adams.
Traffic to the site dropped sharply in 2016 after Facebook changed its algorithm to favor posts from friends and family over news publishers.
In 2023, Find.co acquired Salon from owners Drew Schoentrup and Chris Richmond. Find.co is a privately held marketing company that focuses on cryptocurrency brands and also owns outlets like CCN and Webopedia.
The closure announcement did not specify who will own the site’s extensive archive going forward.
Erin Keane, the site’s chief content officer, posted on Bluesky that the archive will remain live for now.
