The Messenger was an American news website founded by Jimmy Finkelstein, the former owner of Washington, D.C.-based news organization The Hill. The publication launched on May 15, 2023, and hired many journalists and editors from several other established news organizations. On January 31, 2024, Finkelstein informed employees that The Messenger was shutting down effective immediately, citing funding issues.[1] The New York Times called it "one of the biggest busts" in online news.[2]
History
The Messenger was founded by Finkelstein, after selling The Hill to Nexstar Media Group in 2021. Finkelstein began to raise funds for The Messenger, which he founded in West Palm Beach, Florida.[3] The website secured an investment of $50 million from American businessmen Mark Penn, Victor Ganzi, Josh Harris, James Tisch, and Thomas Peterffy