In September, New Yorker television critic Nancy Franklin decided to take a break from writing (hold the occasional pro-bono work for the finer comment sections of the Internet).

So, in January, The New Yorker tapped New York's Emily Nussbaum to be their TV critic.

At the same time, Salon lost TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz to New York.

Now, New York loses their deputy entertainment editor and Vulture scribe Willa Paskin to Salon, to be their TV critic.

Here is a map:

When asked for hyperbolic plaudits about his freshest poaching kill, Salon chief Kerry Lauerman told The Observer over email:

Willa was actually a star intern for us in 2006-2007, and I've followed her writing ever since, especially her terrific work at Vulture. When the position opened up, she was a natural person to approach, and I was thrilled when she accepted. The great thing about Willa is her range -- she's got a wonderfully curious mind, a compelling voice, knows how to report, and is a great interviewer -- and we hope to employ her multiple talents to full effect. Criticism will be a big part of her role, but not the only one.

See! Media internships do get people jobs.

Lauerman also pointed to the inclusion of Paskin—before New York, a Radar and BlackBook editor—on this recent ThinkProgress list via his own Salon blog about women the media should be employing more. See! Making ostensibly frivolous link-baity media lists do get people jobs!

fkamer@observer.com | @weareyourfek

Walsh will be replaced by Salon's executive editor Kerry Lauerman, who joined the site in 2000. The choice to elevate a longtime staffer rather than bring in new blood indicates that, in spite of its poor financial performance, Salon isn't interested in substantially changing direction.

The editorial changing of the guard was announced in an all-staff meeting Monday afternoon led by Salon CEO Richard Gringas from San Francisco. Employees in New York participated via conference call. During the meeting, Gringas also addressed the company's financial situation. Though he admitted that the company is losing money, he told staffers that he expects Salon will be able to continue to grow. 

Salon was a pioneer when it launched in 1995, but it currently competes in a much more crowded market and is not turning a profit. In its most recent SEC filings, Salon Media Group showed losses of $817,000 in the second quarter of this year, an improvement on the $1.255 million the company lost during the same period of last year. Including physical property, Salon currently has total assets of $2.027 million, but the company also has $9.477 million in liabilities for a total deficit of $7.45 million.

For now, Salon is staying afloat with the help of loans from investors. Between now and March 31, 2011, the end of the fiscal year, Salon "anticipates continued but reduced operating losses." Salon's second quarter earnings report includes this eye-poppingly vague admission: "Salon estimates it will require between $500 and $1 million in additional funding to meet its operating needs for the balance of its fiscal year. If planned revenues are less than expected, or if planned expenses are more than expected, the cash shortfall may be higher, which will result in a commensurate increase in required financing."  

The report also admits that coming up with the necessary cash is in no way a sure thing:  

The Company remains dependent upon its two largest shareholders for continued financial support while it seeks external financing from potential investors in the form of additional indebtedness or through the sale of equity securities in a private placement ...  However, Salon does not currently have an agreement in place to provide any financing, and there is no certainty that Salon will be able to enter into definitive agreements for additional financing on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.

Salon's stock price has dropped precipitously over the last decade. Ten years ago, shares of the company traded for approximately $26. By January 2006, Salon's share price had dropped to $10. As of this writing, shares of Salon Media group are currently trading for $0.10, down from a 52-week high of $0.80 in September. 

Lauerman, a well-liked editor, clearly his work cut out for him. We can only wish him well. 

In the great war against Salon.com, do we need any more evidence of their disfiguring ideologies, their disgusting and deleterious doctrines which they so perniciously advance, than this screenshot from their website?

Below are the reward fliers our militia is sprinkling about University Place. At right, white wine and torture-loving New York editorial director (and man!) Kerry Lauerman; on the reader's left, an artist's rendering of what an imprisoned Rebecca Traister might look like. Resist! Refuse! Our fine American reward money can be yours.