Salon, internet’s oldest general interest publication, shuts down after 31 years
Website known for politics, arts and culture coverage announces closure just weeks before anniversary Salon, one of the early internet’s pioneering publications, is closing after more than three decades, the outlet announced on Thursday. “It’s difficult to find the right words for the end of something that has meant so much to so many people. Salon was never just a website,” Salon said in a…
Salon, the pioneering online publication that chronicled politics, arts, and culture for three decades, announced its closure on Thursday. The decision came just weeks before the website's 31st anniversary on November 20. In a statement, Salon acknowledged that finding the right words to describe the end of their iconic platform was challenging, as the site had meant so much to countless individuals.
They emphasized that Salon was more than just a website; it represented an idea about the potential of journalism in the nascent digital age. The closure announcement cited the significant transformation of the business landscape for independent digital journalism over the years. After careful consideration, Salon concluded that its publishing model was no longer sustainable.
They expressed deep disappointment at the news, sharing the sadness of their community. Founded in San Francisco in 1995, Salon was the oldest general interest publication on the internet, as recognized by the Columbia Journalism Review in 2011. Over the years, the publication garnered numerous accolades, including Time magazine's website of the year in 1996 and BusinessWeek's best website award in 1997.
Salon's team, which had relocated to New York City in the 2000s, expressed immense gratitude to all those who contributed to the publication's journey throughout its many chapters. They emphasized that 31 years constituted a remarkable achievement, but what truly mattered were the journalism, ideas, voices, conversations, and community that thrived during those years.
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