Is long-form web journalism already dead?

When sites like Byliner.com and Longreads.com first debuted, I was thrilled. A place for journalists to write long-form narratives and investigative stories on the web, where page counts aren't restricted like they are in print magazines -- What could be better? Plus, the types of stories these sites were putting out were unlike the stories you'd find elsewhere. They felt fresh, rich, varied. You could really sit down and sink your teeth into them. 

Which is why it's sad and troubling to see articles like this one, which point to the decline of long-form web journalism and the financial troubles of Byliner and others. 

Personally, I'd love to see a world where people actually see value in long-form journalism and pay for the stories they're reading on the web. But I know that's likely a fantasy. Perhaps some day...