Slate For Sale

The New York Times is reporting that Microsoft is planning to sell Slate, the best of the web-only internet magazines:

According to company executives, Microsoft is considering a sale of Slate because the model of creating a Web magazine of cultural criticism and political analysis to attract visitors to its MSN Network has little business salience in an age dominated by search applications. And the site's small size limits its ability to contribute meaningfully to Microsoft's revenues.

Potential buyers mentioned include the New York Times Company itself, and the Washington Post Company. One hopes that any change in owner does not affect the quality of the writing or the editorial independence that makes Slate one of my daily internet destinations.