"The Messenger: A Short-Lived News Startup's Sudden Closure"

The Messenger, a news startup, faced financial troubles and ultimately shut down after struggling to generate enough revenue from advertising and failing to launch its events and digital video businesses. The company's costly plan to build a massive newsroom quickly backfired, leading to layoffs and voluntary departures as it attempted to cut costs. The founder openly discussed the company's financial challenges with staff, revealing the need to raise $15-20 million within two weeks. Despite efforts to raise money, leaks and uncertainty about the company's future damaged advertising efforts, ultimately leading to its closure.