9 Mar 2024
Washington Life Magazine Reviews
2.7
42% would recommend to a friend
Soroush Richard Shehabi
42% approve of CEO
Reviews by job title
5 reviews
1.0
5 Oct 2021
Absolutely the worst place I've ever worked
Former employee, more than 3 years
Washington, DC
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook
Pros
It was fun being invited to some really cool parties and we liked to go on these super cool travel junkets all over the country that were all paid for by PR companies. We weren't expected to write about them for the magazine afterwards, which was a bonus, as the publisher didn't seem to care, which was nice.
Cons
The owners of the magazine, a husband and wife team, are absolutely two of the most abusive people I've ever worked for. We had to work in their cramped house, and often we'd smell weed coming from their backyard. They are also serious Coca Cola addicts, if you know what I mean. They'd often argue with each other in meetings, and then go after staffers two on one, berating them with horrible insults until they cried. Over the three years I was there, I witnessed them berate staffers so badly that a staffer would run out and literally not come back to work. They were often days or sometimes late with our pay, because they were often on vacation. One time we had to track them down skiing in Switzerland, because they had forgotten to pay us for nearly 10 days. The toughest part was learning that all of the hard work we put into making the magazine was hardly reaching anyone, because they were printing tens of thousands fewer magazines than they were telling us or their advertisers, who were essentially getting ripped off.
3.0
8 Sept 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook
Pros
- Some of the editors here are genuinely lovely people and excellent journalists. - If you are on the editorial staff, there are opportunities to travel on Press trips, you spend time behind the scenes of glamorous photo shoots, there are constant invites to high-profile Washington D.C. events, occasional free merch - Opportunities to interview prominent politicians and celebrities in DC - Plenty of print bylines for your portfolio - Always paid on time
Cons
- this is a family owned and operated publication. The Editor in Chief is married to the so called CEO, neither of which have the slightest idea what they're doing. Being in meetings when they fight is incredibly uncomfortable... feels more like marriage counseling. Both are unreasonable and selfish people who will never give up their titles, despite not doing any of the work that comes with the roles. - the Washington Life 'office' is actually a cramped, freezing, dingy space in the couple's garage... it's gross and wouldn't pass a health and safety check - the magazine doesn't generate money (not unusual for a regional publication unfortunately), so expect VERY low pay and no promotions, as they aren't going to risk having to give you a bonus - ALL employees are made to feel dispensable - articles will promote the couple's friends more often than real news - Basically, only work here if you're okay staying at the same editorial level your entire career, but do enjoy the magazine's perks
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