Salon.com struggling to stay alive.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Byline: Peter Lauria

Someday, someone might figure out how a journalistically heralded, general-interest Web site can prosper as an independent entity.

But that moment may come too late for Salon.com, the financially challenged online purveyor of news and opinion, which, for the moment at least, answers to no corporate parent.

While only recently acknowledging acquisition overtures by outside companies, Michael O'Donnell, the San Francisco-based Web site's president and CEO, said Salon has not hired an investment bank and has not actively pursued a sale. Media bankers suspect, however, that while the process has not been formalized, either Salon or people on its behalf have gauged outside interest.

"Salon should come right out and sell, but in this environment it's better to say everything is …