Posted on 08/18/2009 1:32:11 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Salon has laid off eight six editorial staffers—or 20% of its editorial staff—so that, in the words of CEO Richard Gingras, it can become "more of a true Web publication." Welcome to the internet, Salon!
In a statement to Gawker, Gingras confirmed that three editors, one writer, one photo editor, and one producer were laid off last week. The only name we've heard thus far is culture editor Joy Press; let us know if you have any other intelligence.
UPDATE: Here's the complete list: Jeanne Carstensen, managing editor Kevin Berger, features editor Katharine Mieszkowski, senior writer Joy Press, culture editor Caitlin Shamberg, multimedia editor Julie Coburn, photo editor
Gingras says the firings are pegged to an upcoming redesign and streamlining of the site's publishing system that will put Salon in a "good position to not just weather the economic storm but emerge much stronger than ever." Salon was launched in 1995, and has, to our knowledge, been an online publication for its entire life, which makes Gingras' determination to finally become a web site somewhat disconcerting: All these years, apparently, it's been a false web publication.
But Salon is the cockroach of the web, and has managed to survive all sorts of trials and tribulations and leadership changes to remain a valuable player—their publication of previously unseen photos of torture at Abu Ghraib and editor Joan Walsh's motherly smackdown of Bill O'Reilly were both public services—so we're confident that they'll manage. We just wish they didn't have to fire a bunch of people in order to become a web site.
(Excerpt) Read more at gawker.com ...
Salon???
Oh Yeah!
I remember Salon.
It used to be relevant, right?
And they are moving into their mom's basement.
I guess the grounds for their firing were they didn’t know how to use the internet.
Isn’t Salon a penny stock or something?
The word “true” has no place in a discussion of Salon.
Salon, welcome to the internet. It’s about time you showed up for the party.
I think they should fire even more people. Then they will really really really be part of the internet.
From the names listed, it looks like 5 of the 6 fired were women. I’m curious to know the gender make up of the remaining staff.
Snicker....but the cockroach analogy later was apt, especially with Joan Walsh as Managing Editor.
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