When the internet was still young, Salon became one of the very first magazines created only for the web. For 31 years, it helped shape online writing about politics and culture. Now, the historic publication is shutting down because it says independent digital journalism is no longer sustainable.
In an announcement on its website, Salon said it is ending publication. The company explained that the financial realities of online journalism have changed deeply over the years, and its publishing model can no longer survive. Across the media industry, independent websites are struggling to survive as search traffic patterns change and artificial intelligence tools reshape the internet.
Salon looked back on its three decades with pride. In its farewell post, the company said that 31 years was a remarkable run, but what mattered most was the journalism, the ideas, the voices, and the community that grew around them. Salon added that it helped demonstrate what digital journalism could become, hoping its legacy will continue to matter.
Readers will still have access to the site's past stories, at least in the near future. Salon chief content officer Erin Keane said on Bluesky that the editorial archive will stay online for now. However, the closure marks the end of a major chapter in internet history, as one of the web's original independent voices falls silent.