Maximum Media Reviews

- Warped view of the company's success and reputation in the industry - Lack of direction, no real experience in the senior management team - Out and out desperation for cash - a hand to mouth operation - A revolving door - staff churn rates are the highest in the industry Despite being warned not to join JOE UK (by two respected industry peers), I went ahead with the decision because I had been sold the dream by the founder, Niall. The organisation is, well, disorganised to say the very least. There is no real focus and the rudderless ship is being steered in whichever direction the wind takes them - usually the one to the quickest deal to pour cash back into the top to save the real job of going to institutional investors and making a real go if it. Staff are not treated with respect and if you don't do things the'JOE Way' you get edged closer and closer to the door until life becomes uncomfortable. It was the worst four months of my professional life!

I worked at JOE for just under a year, and it was undoubtedly the worst experience of my professional life. In fact, my life in general so far. I, like many others who took jobs there, was promised the moon. They had all these great notions about content, campaigns etc. It took about 3 weeks for it all to start turning sour. The only thing - the absolute *only* thing - this company cares about it making money. That's fine, but be honest about it. Don't mislead young journalists with promises about writing/creating amazing content etc. The editorial direction will change almost weekly, depending on site traffic and the whims of management, who seem to think that just because they've made things work in Ireland (where they have literally no competition), that the same model will work in the UK. It doesn't. This place treats its staff terribly - more than one person had to be signed off due to stress - and I personally came close to a nervous breakdown (seriously) from trying to deal with the stress and the gaslighting going on in this profoundly dysfunctional and unprofessional environment. When I finally cracked and left, I didn't work in media for a year. I couldn't do it, so burned was I by the experience in MM. On top of that, the place has a total disregard for its audience. It talks a big game about respecting their intelligence, expanding the audience etc, but the truth is, they don't want to challenge anything, but just keep their (bought) Facebook audiences of football fans happy. The experience broke me, and, believe me, this is a staggeringly common assessment, not just from former employees, but people still working there. What I'd advise anyone - especially idealistic young writers/journalists - is don't believe a word Niall McGarry or any of the Stockholm Syndrome-infected management promise you in an interview. Don't be tempted by money or titles they'll throw at you. Believe me, it's not worth it.