Media Startup 'The Messenger' Reportedly Out of Money Five Months After Launch, Staff Push for Unionization Amid Concerns

Amid reported financial troubles and whispers of low visibility, staff at The Messenger, backed by billionaire Jimmy Finklestein, gear up to unionize, seeking transparency over a recent AI partnership, internal traffic numbers, and leadership's elusive presence.

• The Messenger, a media startup founded by billionaire Jimmy Finklestein, is reportedly 'out of money' only five months after its launch despite an investment of $50 million, causing concern among its employees.
• Employees of The Messenger, anxious over the company's financial state and the lack of transparency over the site’s traffic, are pushing for unionization and demanding a town hall meeting with management to address their worries.
• One of the major concerns of the staff is the recent partnership with an artificial intelligence firm, Seekr, causing fear among them that AI bots may replace their roles in producing content.
• Another issue of unease is Finkelstein's regular involvement in editorial matters, regularly sending editors story ideas and tips - part of the normal responsibilities of the reportedly often-absent Editor-in-Chief Dan Wakeford.
• Despite management's claims of high traffic, external traffic analysis by Similarweb revealed that The Messenger currently ranks 195th among US news sites, a ranking similar to that of local Texas news stations.

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