Nieman Foundation at Harvard
Happy birthday to The Messenger, which launched one year ago today! Weirdly, I don’t think I’ve come across any Messenger stories in my feeds lately — maybe a shadow ban? — but it must be well on its way to the sort of media dominance that comes with $50 million in startup capital, a newsroom of 550 journalists, a commitment to “polyperspectivity,” and plans for $100 million in annual revenue.
In all seriousness, the implosion of The Messenger was one of the most spectacular and predictable media failures of recent decades. The culprit was, at its core, the strategy laid out by owner Jimmy Finkelstein, which was tuned to an earlier age. In the roughly hundred days since the shutdown, Messenger journalists have tried to find new work — and filed suit against Finkelstein for severance payments they say they are owed. (At least three lawsuits have been filed.)
No one would blame Finkelstein for laying low for a while. But instead, he’s back at it, according to a new report from The Daily Beast’s Justin Baragona:
Despite falling flat on his face with doomed media outlet The Messenger, Jimmy Finkelstein is already looking to launch another project, multiple sources familiar with the situation told The Daily Beast.The former owner of The Hill recently met with potential investors in New York, according to three sources familiar with the matter, in an effort to drum up interest in a new venture. This potential new project is still very much in the planning stages, the sources emphasized.
Details are still scant on what exactly Finkelstein may be cooking up, with sources speculating that it could be health industry-related and possibly not even a traditional media company.
Either way, the 76-year-old mogul does appear determined to add another chapter to his lengthy career. “Jimmy is definitely doing something. He’s not prepared to be on the sidelines,” one person close to Finkelstein told The Daily Beast.
Who is Finkelstein brainstorming with? According to Baragona, billionaire and J.D. Vance fan James Tisch and Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy (recently seen taking $50 million from a Qatari royal to “soften” Newsmax coverage of the nation). Finkelstein is reportedly “promising to soon launch a project with the potential to clear his name after The Messenger’s spectacular failure.”
Well, best of luck. But let’s see what The Messenger’s laid-off journalists are saying about the idea of their former boss taking another whack at making Americans “fall in love” with media again.
May I suggest to any potential investors just setting your money on fire instead? Faster, less traumatic, same outcome. https://t.co/2YajhWuO6t
— Lauren Morello (@lmorello_dc) May 15, 2024
If you work for this guy, you should be clear-eyed that it’s a hopeless enterprise.
Or you should see a therapist
Or both https://t.co/ZP6HpFGjzE
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) May 15, 2024
Please don't give this guy money to throw away again. https://t.co/eB2VMiUGzv pic.twitter.com/6OUAahuAmY
— @lindsemcpherson (@lindsemcpherson) May 15, 2024
If he has the money to start a new business venture, he must also have the $12,000 in severance he owes me. Right? Right? https://t.co/0R0fMnE1ll
— madeline fitzgerald (@madelineanele) May 15, 2024
gonna be hard to argue in court that he can’t pay us severance when he’s trying to launch an entirely new outlet, i reckon https://t.co/CdCGjs3miz
— Eli Walsh (@walsh_eli) May 15, 2024
Maybe pay the last 300 people you screwed severance before screwing a new group? https://t.co/Kbioe2urgp
— Adam Kovac (@AdamJKovac) May 15, 2024
— taylor (@cornbreadsays) May 15, 2024
Before you apply give me a call first https://t.co/Oy0P0s1z0L
— Stephen Neukam (@stephen_neukam) May 15, 2024
Trust me when I say to avoid this man like the plague. https://t.co/Gj7xqFOpy5
— Lauren Morgan (@morglaur) May 15, 2024
Reminder: There are several ongoing lawsuits against Jimmy for $$$ he owes us ex-Messengers, none of whom were given severance.
When some of my old colleagues launched a GoFundMe to help people who needed it most pay their rents, Jimmy called the effort "wonderful." https://t.co/3cNf1nuG1Z
— Christopher Gavin (@chris_m_gavin) May 15, 2024
Another reminder of the many journalists unceremoniously tossed to the curb, who had to learn about it in the NY Times. And there is an active lawsuit trying to secure at least a modicum of severance for them https://t.co/4BtNK3I5Xc
— Tom LoBianco, 24sight News, "Pence whisperer" (@tomlobianco) May 15, 2024
https://t.co/mszfhWoDVO pic.twitter.com/BkqmXoe2th
— Aneeta Mathur-Ashton (@MathurAshton) May 15, 2024
oh dear god https://t.co/HoAzbKVMI1
— anila lijo (@_27alijo) May 15, 2024
lol ok https://t.co/iyj2kh4eSh
— Jim LaPorta (@JimLaPorta) May 15, 2024
