Slate (magazine)
On the 24th of June 1996, Michael Kinsley launched Slate under the ownership of Microsoft. This date marked a specific moment when digital journalism began to take shape as a viable business model. Kinsley wrote that one goal was proving that economies of cyberspace could make their type of journalism pay for itself. The website received significant user traffic from the MSN network through its relationship with Microsoft. It popularized features such as hyperlinks and direct communications between writers and readers. In 1998, Slate introduced a paywall-based business model that attracted up to 20,000 subscribers before being abandoned later. The outlet achieved a profitable quarter in 2003 and broke even in 2004 with $6 million in revenue from six million monthly readers.
In 2004, the magazine was purchased by The Washington Post Company. An agreement stipulated that the MSN website would continue to redirect to Slate. Later, in 2008, The Washington Post Company launched The Slate Group to manage Slate and other online magazines. The same year, Slate launched The Root, an African American news site, and The Big Money, a business news website. In 2011, the magazine switched its content management system from Gutenberg to Adobe CQ5. That same year, it laid off several high-profile journalists including co-founder Jack Shafer and Timothy Noah. In 2013, after The Washington Post Company sold The Washington Post to Jeff Bezos, the parent company was renamed Graham Holdings. By September 2014, Slate became profitable following preceding years of layoffs and falling ad revenue.
The magazine operates as both ad-supported and has a membership model with a metered paywall. In 2014, it introduced a paywall system called Slate Plus offering ad-free podcasts and bonus materials. A year later, it had attracted 9,000 subscribers generating about $500,000 in annual revenue. By June 2015, Slate moved all content behind a metered paywall for international readers. This change attributed to advertisers targeting domestic readers. In 2018, Slate staff members joined the Writers Guild of America East. Union members authorized a strike leading to a three-year collective bargaining agreement in January 2019. The outlet achieved profitability again by September 2014 after previous struggles with ad revenue.
Since 2006, Slate has been known for publishing contrarian pieces arguing against commonly held views about a subject. This approach gave rise to the #slatepitches Twitter hashtag in 2009. The Columbia Journalism Review defined Slate pitches as an idea that sounds wrong or counterintuitive proposed as though it were the tightest logic ever. In 2014, then editor-in-chief Julia Turner acknowledged that this reputation formed part of the brand but argued the hashtag misrepresented the site's journalism. In 2019, editors like David Plotz noted the pitch became difficult due to polarizing politics during the Trump administration. Former writer Matthew Yglesias concurred with reporting that journalism had become homogeneous in recent times.
According to the Nieman Foundation for Journalism, Slate has been involved in podcasts almost from the very beginning of the medium. Its first podcast Political Gabfest was released in 2005 and inspired by editorial conference calls. By June 2012, Slate expanded its lineup to 19 podcasts including Culture Gabfest which remained popular. That count shrank to 14 by February 2015 yet all received six million downloads per month. In 2018, it offered a slate of 25 podcasts. Slates investment in podcasts led to receiving awards including Slow Burn and Political Gabfest. In 2013, columns by Dahlia Lithick won National Magazine Awards for Columns and Commentary. The outlet also won General Excellence awards in 2003, 2011, and 2016.
On the 7th of June 2001, Slate published an article by Jay Forman claiming fishermen on an island in the Florida Keys fished for rhesus monkeys. The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times found the claim to be a hoax after investigation. Later, Forman admitted to his editor Jack Shafer that his claim had been fabricated. In 2021, Mike Pesca host of the podcast The Gist was suspended from Slate after a Slack discussion involving Donald G. McNeil Jr. and usage of a racial slur. He ultimately parted ways and took his podcast independent. On the 16th of September 2025, Slate filed a lawsuit against Google over alleged antitrust violations. These events highlight significant scandals including internal staff disputes regarding racial slurs alongside fabrication controversies.
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Common questions
When did Michael Kinsley launch Slate under the ownership of Microsoft?
Michael Kinsley launched Slate on the 24th of June 1996 under the ownership of Microsoft. This date marked a specific moment when digital journalism began to take shape as a viable business model.
Who purchased Slate in 2004 and what happened to The Washington Post Company later?
The magazine was purchased by The Washington Post Company in 2004. Later, after selling The Washington Post to Jeff Bezos, the parent company was renamed Graham Holdings by September 2013.
What is the history of paywalls and subscription models for Slate since 2014?
Slate introduced a paywall system called Slate Plus in 2014 offering ad-free podcasts and bonus materials. By June 2015, the outlet moved all content behind a metered paywall for international readers.
Which awards has Slate won from the National Magazine Awards and other organizations?
Columns by Dahlia Lithick won National Magazine Awards for Columns and Commentary in 2013. The outlet also won General Excellence awards in 2003, 2011, and 2016.
When did Slate file a lawsuit against Google over alleged antitrust violations?
On the 16th of September 2025, Slate filed a lawsuit against Google over alleged antitrust violations. This event highlights significant controversies including internal staff disputes regarding racial slurs alongside fabrication controversies.