The Ringer is reportedly in talks about a sale to Spotify -- a deal that "could be a financial windfall for the site’s founders and help Spotify gain a foothold in sports media" -- but employees at The Ringer are "raising alarms about what it means for their jobs," according to Ben Strauss of the WASHINGTON POST. The Ringer union in a statement said, “The Ringer’s staff is made up of far more than podcasters: writers, editors, illustrators, fact checkers, copy editors, social media editors, and video and audio producers. It’s our hope that any future sale both recognizes the importance of that staff and honors the existing progress we’ve made at the bargaining table since our union was recognized in August.” A source said that Ringer employees are "worried about the jobs of non-podcasters in a deal with Spotify, which does not produce or distribute any written content." The Ringer’s staff "announced its intention to organize in August, and the union was quickly recognized by management." The most recent bargaining session "was last week." The source said that most of the 62-person bargaining unit "does not have equity in the company" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/22).
