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Not only is Salon one of the longest-running online publications, it's also one of the few that managed to survive the dot-com crash of 2000 with some semblance of dignity.

Unfortunately however, the news does not look good for this site's continued existence.

Like virtually all eZines and news sites, the loss of "easy money" from advertising in the wake of the dot-com crash left it strapped for cash and forced to count its beans very carefully.

But we're not just talking beans are we?

Believe it or not, Salon has consumed a total of US$81 million since its launch!

Readers Say (updated irregularly) Nothing Yet Have Your Say

Now, despite the critically acclaimed quality of its content and its continuing high profile, the site is in such dire straights that it may well shut up shop early next month.

If the company's management don't make the move themselves, it appears as if their landlord might make it for them -- having filed a demand for $200,000 in unpaid rent.

This sad state of affairs must really leave one wondering whether the traditional magazine format is a valid model for the Net. If Salon, in all its glory, can only attract 47,000 paying subscribers, and if advertisers are obviously unwilling to pay enough to even cover the costs of operation, then there's something very wrong.

But let's look at a very successful publishing model that has gone from strength to strength -- Slashdot.

Slashdot publishes more content than any sane person could read and much of this content is very insightful and engaging.

But there are no paid writers, there are no huge offices, no large numbers of full-time editorial staff, and no carparks filled with Porsches.

Slashdot is a very clever online publishing concept that relies on its own readers to provide the content -- and they don't pay a bean for it!

What a great model!

By paring its costs and overheads to a minimum, Slashdot is in the enviable position of not actually needing a whole lot of revenue to keep its head above water or (gasp!) even spin a profit.

It is this type of innovative new model that I believe paves the way for the future of online publishing -- especially where minimal budgets and resources are available.

Maybe Salon should take a look and reflect.

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