Charleston Magazine Reviews

Let's start with the lack of benefits. They offer the "benefit" of low quality/low benefit health insurance that takes about $500 out of your paycheck per month, if you choose to use it. I did not know of a single person in the company who used the insurance--not even upper management--everyone just got their own separately. The pay is well below the industry standard and do not expect to get a raise regardless of how hard, how long, or how much your work. They tell you that the job is 9-5pm Monday-Friday (and that's the contract you sign upon hire) but then will be reprimanded for only working those hours. They expect you to work hours past your scheduled time to leave as well as on your own time on weekends. It would be one thing if you were paid by the hour, but for salary pay that's a lot of free labor. Once again, don't expect a raise. No opportunities for promotion. Also, don't expect much (if any) credit for your work. The person/people above you will receive the praise and recognition for the hours you spent working hard on something. Need more proof that you aren't appreciated? The company puts on and sponsors countless events and parties throughout the year, most of which that you contributed towards, and you likely won't be invited or given a ticket. And if by some miracle you do get a ticket, don't even consider having a plus 1. The building is old and unmaintained, often with broken toilets and infestations of some form of rodent or insect. Spent a very long time with computers and equipment that did not work properly. Believe it or not, this is the short version of the full review. Much more could be said. Ask one of the dozen+ people who quit within the last year.

Are you looking for a job right out of college where you can get your feet wet and establish experience for at least 1 year where it looks good on a resume? WORK HERE! Are you looking for a job where you’re appreciated, payed well/a competitive salary, not overworked, valued, given benefits, get to collaborate in a team setting, and work in an up to date office setting? DO NOT WORK HERE. This company needs to stop hiring under qualified people from previous roles within the company and focus on hiring professionals with actual experience. Many people within the company are doing at least 4-5 additional jobs than what they were hired to do with no pay grade. The company in general is understaffed, but that will happen when the highest salary you offer is $20-30k. There is no actual digital team, which is unfortunate since they sell to advertisers for huge video campaigns or sponsorships that are being produced in house by one part-time employee that uses their own video equipment and other staffers who are doing their additional jobs. Projects get done at last minute with no genuine thought process behind it. Since they are so short staffed, they rely very very heavily on their unpaid internships. The company has at least 15-20 per season for all of their departments. Luckily all cities have great and new content to document, but there is no new creativity happening. Everything is very much a “this has worked for the last 10 years” approach or copying what other city magazines are doing. Benefits? National holidays off. That’s it (sometimes not even that if you’re on a shipping deadline). No actual health insurance, or anything of that sort that is decent. Fun events the magazine sponsors- not invited. Fun events that the magazine actually puts on and you do all the work for- also not invited. Unfortunately the turnaround rate is 1-2 years and I saw multiple coworkers leave within that time. I’ve witnessed multiple people crying at their desks over frustrations and anxiety over this company and the toxic environment that was created. The lack of communication within the company and individual teams is insane. Since there is no HR department (or office secretary for that matter) it is very hard for there to be any improvement within the company. As if culture wasn’t bad, the office is very poor. Nothing gets thrown away, just put into an old office. At one point the heat/ac, bathroom toilet, bathroom sink, hot water and printer were all broken for a month with zero urgency to get fixed. There are holes in the ceiling and junk literally everywhere. It will actually make you depressed working there, an actual statement from previous employees + interns. It’s been more than a year, and some contributors for the magazine haven’t even been paid yet for their work. Interns are pretty much forced to lie when contributors call in asking to speak to someone. I gave my notice, which legally is NOT required, but an act of courtesy. Senior staff members said I gave them no time to replace my job and ‘my generation was lazy’. There are like four positions in my company that have not been filled for almost a year. I also had the same time notice/last day as two other employees within the company. So THREE people quit within the same week if that says anything. This company has no coworker support either. Everyone puts the blame on someone else. There was not one day when I didn’t hear someone complaining about another person in the company. Zero professionalism. Walls (if any) are paper thin so you are able to hear EVERY conversation. One employee even goes out of their way to make up lies to get other employees in trouble. It was the most toxic situation I’ve ever been in and every former employee says they do not regret leaving the company. One day there might be an overhaul of the ‘senior staff’ where someone else takes over in general, but until then don’t waste your time. Reach out to one of the 20 people that have quit in the last year, their answer will be similar to this review!