Everyone in legacy corporate media is struggling with the possible exception of Fox News. Following Donald Trump’s election victory, the writing on the wall that legacy media has been pretending wasn’t there became too bright to ignore.
The people don’t trust the media. It’s not because of the Trump victory. In fact, one can argue that the Trump victory is indicative of the paradigm shift away from the “Arbiters of Truth” with a far greater emphasis on independent journalists and public sharing sites like 𝕏.
Now that the election is over, it’s time to pay the piper. According to The Post Millennial:
The Associated Press (AP) acknowledged its financial problems Monday as it began offering buyout packages to some employees and laying off others, downsizing by 8 percent. The go-to news organization that has been providing stories that are ready to print or broadcast for decades is downsizing as it focuses on digital news gathering, the outlet reported. Some major oulets have stopped buying its conent.
The AP is experiencing some of the financial losses that other mainstream media outlets have seen accelerate in recent years. CNN is also reportedly laying off hundreds of staff, including on-air talent, before the end of the year. The oultlet said those who qualify for a buyout, which includes severance pay and some healthcare insurance for 18 months, would be informed by the end of business on Monday. Those getting axed would get the news in the next few weeks.
Some of the AP’s issues accelerated in 2024 when both the Gannett and McClatchy news chains, which control around 230 outlets including USA today, said they would no longer purchase news from the outlet. Although the outlet sells its materials directly to the consumer on the internet, much of its business is still conducted with member news outlets who pay a monthly or yearly fee for access.
The AP, founded in 1846, used to pride itself on being the largest news service in the world, providing news with reporters stationed around the globe. The AP has said that less than half of those affected would be directly producing the news.
A news and media union, the News Media Guild, revealed that 121 members would get buyouts from the company, however the outlet would not confirm the numbers exactly.
“We all know this is a time of transformation in the media sector,” Daisy Veerasingham, the AP’s president and CEO, told staff in a Monday morning memo. “Our customers — both who they are and what they need from us — are changing rapidly. This is why we’ve focused on delivering a digital-first news report. We now need to accelerate on this path.”
The people are awakening and their information gatekeepers are running out of sleeping pills. This bodes well for the incoming Trump administration.
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.
