From The Messenger to LA Times, Journalism Faces Rough Stretch

From a startup outlet burning through tens of millions of dollars and shutting down to newsrooms making significant cuts, journalism has faced a rough stretch. The Messenger ceased operations, while The Los Angeles Times and The Wall Street Journal have executed notable layoffs—a reflection of the tough media environment, according to experts. This trend has included questionable business decisions, disputes between journalists and management, and reprioritizing coverage goals. The Messenger Less than a year after its launch, online newsite The Messenger ended its roughly 300-personnel operation on Jan. 31 as founder and CEO Jimmy Finkelstein told the staff that the website would go dark “effective immediately.”...