"The Messenger's Demise: Staffers Torch Owner Over Implosion and Cruel Layoffs"

Former employees of The Messenger, a failed media startup, have criticized owner Jimmy Finkelstein for his handling of the company's closure, calling him a "sociopath" and accusing him of deliberate cruelty. They claim Finkelstein left hundreds of employees without severance pay or health insurance and failed to communicate effectively. Editor-in-chief Dan Wakeford has also faced criticism for his lack of robust communication with the newsroom. The company's demise is attributed to overpromising and underdelivering, as well as a flawed business and editorial strategy. Staffers are now calling for Finkelstein to pay severance from his own pockets.