Jezebel, a popular online publication focused on sex, celebrity, and politics, is being shut down by its current owner, G/O Media. The decision to suspend publication of Jezebel was described as a difficult one by G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller, who emphasized that it was not a reflection on the Jezebel editorial team. The shutdown will result in the layoff of 23 editorial staffers. Spanfeller explained that the business model and audience of Jezebel did not align with G/O Media's other brands. Despite efforts to find a new home for Jezebel, no suitable buyer was found. G/O Media acquired Jezebel's parent company, Gizmodo Media Group, in 2019. Spanfeller cited 'economic headwinds' affecting G/O Media's financial health, but noted that the company is not facing as dire a situation as other digital media companies. The top editors of G/O Media's publications will now report into an office of editorial oversight. The future of Jezebel and its legacy as a groundbreaking women's media website remains uncertain.
The Messenger, an upstart digital news outlet founded by Jimmy Finkelstein, is also closing down less than a year after its launch. The closure comes after the outlet's strategy of generating internet traffic from social media platforms and search engines failed to overcome industry headwinds. The outlet had hoped to hire 550 journalists but eventually hired 300. The collapse of The Messenger comes amid widespread layoffs in the media industry and struggles with advertising and audience. The outlet's founder, Finkelstein, met with right-wing financiers in an attempt to raise capital, but the efforts were unsuccessful. The closure marks one of the largest and swiftest failures of a media outlet in recent memory.
Both Jezebel and The Messenger's closures highlight the challenges faced by digital media companies in today's landscape. The shifting business models, economic pressures, and changing audience preferences have made it difficult for these publications to sustain themselves. The layoffs resulting from these closures also underscore the impact on journalists and media professionals who are facing job insecurity and uncertainty in the industry.
Jezebel's closure was not unexpected, as G/O Media had been struggling financially and the publication's business model did not align with the company's other brands. However, the closure of The Messenger came as a surprise to its employees. Owner Jimmy Finkelstein expressed his devastation and explained that the company was unable to raise sufficient capital to reach profitability. The Messenger aimed to deliver balanced and accurate journalism and achieved significant traffic, with 88 million page views in November. The industry's economic challenges and the company's status as a new startup contributed to its inability to survive. The owner apologized for being unable to find a way forward and thanked the staff for their dedication. More information will be provided in the future.