It also doubled the page views at its site.
On the downside, Salon received e-mail bombs, voice-mail bombs, and threats of real bombs in the wake of the story.
The influx of traffic is persisting, according to David Weir, managing editor of Salon. As a result, he says, the magazine may be profitable next year.
The Henry Hyde story wasn't the first piece of widely noticed original journalism that Salon has published in conjunction with the independent prosecutor's investigation of President Clinton. Salon was also the first news organization to discover David Hale, an important Starr witness in the Whitewater investigation, received suspicious financial payments from an organization attempting to oust Clinton from office.
Weir says Salon is attempting to create important, original reporting without a traditional print parent to provide resources.
Weir, who contributed to the Hyde story, is a 30-year veteran of the journalism business. He did investigative reporting for Rolling Stone and Mother Jones and co-founded the Center for Investigative Reporting.
Paul Schindler spoke recently with Weir about the Henry Hyde story and the future of profitable, quality original journalism on the Web.
Interviewed by Paul Schindler
September 23, 1998
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Big Story At Rolling Stone
Movie Script Credit
Managing Editor, Salon Magazine
Lives in San Francisco. Five children (oldest in college) and a sixth on the way
30 years as an investigative reporter. Worked at or contributed to UPI, Rolling Stone, Center for Investigative Reporting,San Francisco Examiner, California Magazine, Mother Jones, KQED, and Internet sites Netizen and Wired Digital
B.A. in Journalism, University of Michigan
A three-part series on the the underground exploits of Patty Hearst and the Symbionese Liberation Army
Rollover, starring Jane Fonda and Kris Kristofferson