I see Ars as a very interesting microcosm of online journalism.<p>What made Ars great over time and high profile were some very skilled, diligent, audience-mindful writers and editors. As those writers (and editors) got discovered, they were lured to other publications (ex: Washington Post). The replacements, and replacements of replacements, have not been of equivalent caliber, which could also be reinforced in the long run by a &#x27;corporate mentality&#x27; of viewing employees as more-or-less interchangeable parts with dollar signs attached (simplistic but just to make a point).