Monday December 4, 2023

Ringer Woes

ESPN
Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

Former and current employees of sports and pop culture outlet The Ringer are speaking out against management’s alleged anti-union practices. 

The allegations come three weeks after popular staffers Jason Concepcion and Haley O’Shaughnessy announced they were leaving the company, which multiple employees told the New York Times was because of pay disputes. 

Before the company was sold to Spotify for about $200 million in February, it recognized The Ringer Union with the Writers Guild of America last year. Negotiations toward a collective bargaining agreement have since stalled.

Big Timing: A recent influx of big-name talent — like former MLB pitcher CC Sabathia and “The Bachelorette” star Rachel Lindsay — have been brought on as contractors. Employees said this practice closes off internal opportunities and weakens the union. Bill Simmons, who founded The Ringer, has reportedly unfollowed and stopped sharing the work of employees who showed support for the union on Twitter. 

Unions are on the rise in sports media:

  • More than 90% of Sports Illustrated’s staffers elected to join the union backed by the NewsGuild of New York in January.
  • Deadspin staffers are also covered under the WGAE, which announced a three-year agreement with G/O Media in March 2019.
  • Vox Media agreed to a union contract, which includes SB Nation staffers, in July 2019.
Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Covers of Sports Illustrated with photographs by Walter Iooss Jr. are on display at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art Thursday, March 3, 2022.

Sports Illustrated Reportedly Used AI to Create Stories

SI reportedly used AI to create articles and author profiles for stories.
amazon black friday nfl game. dolphins vs. jets.

Amazon Wants Black Friday NFL Viewers to Stay Seated — and Shop

Interactive ads will target a couch-ridden audience in a tryptophan daze.
Raina Kelley of ESPN
exclusive

Sources: Top Leader of ESPN’s 'Andscape' Poised To Leave

Raina Kelley, editor-in-chief of 'Andscape' since 2021, was the third leader of the platform, which launched in 2016.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

CFP Selection Turns Heads with Controversial Selection

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

The College Football Playoff is considering rotating TV networks for the national championship game.

CFP Considers Super Bowl-Like Rotation For National Championship Game

Multiple networks could share rights to the championship game, sources told FOS.
Brett Favre
November 27, 2023

Favre Welfare Case Hold-Up? "AG’s Office Has Not Expressed Interest In Pursuing"

The DOJ interviewed Brett Favre in early 2020.
The future of the Pac-12 rests on a court decision.
November 24, 2023

The Pac-12 Plays Its Final Regular-Season Game. Then A Court Decides Its Fate.

The conference's future rests with a court decision.
Lane Kiffin
November 9, 2023

Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin Lawyers Argue for Dismissal of Player Lawsuit

FOS obtained audio of Lane Kiffin's interaction with the player behind lawsuit.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Wasserman
Multiple - USA Careers
Live Nation
Multiple - USA Careers
Saco Bay PT
Multiple - USA Careers
patrick_mahomes

Super Bowl TV Viewership Sinks 8%

CBS Sports’ telecast of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs averaged 91.629 million viewers, down 8%.
person_playing_cricket
December 23, 2020

Prominent Tech Execs Line Up to Back Cricket Growth In the U.S.

More than 20 investors have now bought into American Cricket Enterprise, parent company oMajor League Cricket.
man_riding_stationary_bike
December 28, 2020

Connected Fitness Company Echelon Lands $65 Million Investment

The funding came from Goldman Sachs and North Castle Partners, who now own controlling interests in the company.
Sponsored

NHL’s Chris Foster on Amplifying Content Distribution With Automation

Learn how the NHL is using WSC Sports to increase fan engagement.
woman_holding_hockey_stick
December 23, 2020

NBC to Air NWHL Finals, Adds to Banner Year for Women’s Sports

It will be the first time professional women’s hockey games are shown live on a major national cable network in the U.S.
antetokounmpo_dribbling_basketball
December 23, 2020

‘Giannis Effect’ Felt by Bucks Following Record-Breaking Extension

Since he was drafted in 2013, the Bucks’ valuation has jumped from No. 30 in the league at $312 million to No. 19 at $1.58 billion.
December 22, 2020

Adam Silver Says NBA Expansion is ‘Manifest Destiny of the League’

"It's sort of the manifest destiny of the league that you expand at some point," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Monday.
December 22, 2020

Adidas Partners With Jerry Lorenzo, Fear of God Brand

Lorenzo will lead creative and business strategy for Adidas basketball globally, and launch a Fear of God athletics sub-brand.