The Messenger politics editor Gregg Birnbaum quits after clash
The Messenger, a news startup owned by Jimmy Finkelstein that launched with $50 million in venture capital, is facing criticism after the politics editor, Gregg Birnbaum, resigned less than a week after the site’s launch. The New York Times reported over the weekend that Birnbaum clashed with the site’s chief growth officer, Neetzan Zimmerman, over stories that were assigned to another team. Journalists at The Messenger are reportedly chafing at management’s edict to post rewrites of stories from other media outlets in hopes of hitting traffic goals. Zimmerman told editors to avoid redundancies by having stories assigned through an online form, but this suggestion was met with resistance since editors were accustomed to using Slack to delegate assignments. When Birnbaum objected, Zimmerman allegedly blamed the politics team for the mix-up. Following a heated exchange between the two men, Birnbaum resigned. Employees at The Messenger say management has circulated a “playbook” to reporters and editors. Before writing a story, they are asked to consider: “Would I click on this? Would I read the whole thing? Would I share it?”
FAQs
Q: Who owns The Messenger?
A: The Messenger is owned by media mogul Jimmy Finkelstein.
Q: How much money did The Messenger launch with in venture capital?
A: The Messenger launched with $50 million in venture capital.
Q: What is the site’s edict to its journalists?
A: The Messenger’s edict to its journalists is to post rewrites of stories from other media outlets in hope of hitting traffic goals.
Q: Who is Neetzan Zimmerman and what is his role at The Messenger?
A: Neetzan Zimmerman is the chief growth officer at The Messenger and is in charge of generating traffic.
Q: What is The Messenger’s “playbook” for reporters and editors?
A: The Messenger’s “playbook” asks reporters and editors to consider three questions before writing a story: “Would I click on this? Would I read the whole thing? Would I share it?”
Politics Editor Gregg Birnbaum Resigns from The Messenger Following a Conflict
The politics editor of digital news outlet The Messenger has resigned amid a clash with Chief Growth Officer Neetzan Zimmerman, according to a report. Gregg Birnbaum, who has previously worked for The Post and the Miami Herald, left after a dispute over stories assigned to a different team. Insiders at the Messenger, owned by Jimmy Finkelstein, claim journalists are frustrated by management’s drive to post rewrites of stories from other outlets to hit traffic goals. Earlier, critics panned the site’s SEO strategy. The Messenger launched with $50m of venture capital, and aims to build a readership of 100 million a month.