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Slate (magazine)




  Url http://wwwslatecom/
  Commercial Yes
  Type Online Magazine
  Registration Optional for The Fray
  Owner The Washington Post Company
  Author Microsoft Corporation


''Slate'' is an English-language online news and culture magazine created in 1996 by former '' New Republic '' editor Michael Kinsley , initially under the ownership of Microsoft , as part of MSN . On December 21 , 2004 , it was purchased by the Washington Post Company .

Former political correspondent -supported and has been available to read free of charge since 1999.


BACKGROUND

''Slate'' features regular and semi-regular columns such as Explainer, Chatterbox, and , Blog s, and the like. It has a number of associated Blog s, including some of the most notable on the Internet, such as the Kausfiles . It also features frequent week-long diary series from interesting people and a link to each day's '' Doonesbury '', whose website ''Slate'' hosts. ''Slate'' also features podcasts of several of its columns available for daily download.http://www.slate.com/id/2119317/

''Slate'' contributes to the National Public Radio show '' Day To Day ''.

Commentator Mickey Kaus's column "Kausfiles" is seen as one of the earliest Blog s.

Slate features a set of online forum boards called " The Fray ", the editing and moderator duties of which are left up to a "Fray Editor."

In March 1998, ''Slate'' attracted considerable notice by charging a $19.95 annual subscription fee, becoming one of the first non-pornographic sites to attempt a subscription-based business model. The scheme didn't work and, less than a year later, in February 1999, Slate dropped the charge and returned to free content, citing both sluggish subscription sales and increased advertising revenue. A similar subscription model would later be implemented by Slate's independently-owned competitor, Salon.com , in April 2001. Salon.com is still primarily subscription-based as of 2007.

On July 15 , 2005 , ''Slate'' began offering a Podcast , featuring selected stories from the site read by ''Slate'' editor Andy Bowers . Another podcast, featuring the Explainer column, was later added, read by ''Slate'' foreign editor June Thomas . A third, called Slate's Spoiler Special, reviews movies for people who have already seen them.

In September 2005, Michael Kinsley returned to Slate, writing a weekly column to be published simultaneously in Slate and the '' Washington Post ''.

On November 30 , 2005 , ''Slate'' started its daily feature ”Today's Pictures,” featuring fifteen to twenty photographs from the archive at Magnum Photos that share a common theme. The column also features two flash animated ”Interactive Essays” a month.

In June 2006, on its 10th anniversary, Slate unveiled a redesigned website.


EDITORIAL STANCE


''Slate'''s focus and editorial slant is politically Liberal , as seen in choice of columnists, choice of and position on topics, and featured cartoon, '' Doonesbury ''. During the 2004 U.S. presidential campaign, a significant majority of staff and contributors supported Democratic challenger John Kerry .'' Slate Votes ''. Slate, October 26, 2004

A more fine-grained analysis puts ''Slate'' slightly to the left of '', Steven Landsburg , and Tim Harford , who although perhaps classifiable as liberal, are still part of the economic establishment and have each done significant research work.

On the occupation of 's "War Stories" column.


CONTRIBUTORS/DEPARTMENTS







OTHER RECURRING FEATURES

  • The Book Club

  • Culturebox

  • Foreigners

  • Dispatches

  • Books

  • Fashion

  • Shopping

  • Gaming

  • The Movie Club

  • Science


Summary Columns:

  • Today's Papers

  • Today's Blogs

  • In Other Magazines

  • Summary Judgement (with NPR 's Day To Day )



OTHER NOTABLE CONTRIBUTORS



REFERENCES