Are Media
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    Are Media
    (67 reviews)
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    Company Reviews

    Working at Are Media

    2.767 ratings in total
    5
    7
    4
    15
    3
    11
    2
    16
    1
    18
    61%
    Rate salary as high or average
    40%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.1(67 ratings)
    Career development
    2.4(67 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    2.4(67 ratings)
    Management
    2.3(67 ratings)
    Working environment
    2.7(67 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.0(67 ratings)
    Ratings for Are Media are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

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    1.0
    Finance Role
    Feb 2026
    Sydney NSW 2000Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Avoid if you can - I have warned you
    The good thingsCBD location and if you want to work 5 days onsite even through they are saying 4 days until you actually joined the business and realised they lied to you during the interview
    The challengesA Masterclass in Toxicity: Disorganized, unprofessional, and lacks a basic level of respect for employees. The management style is archaic and the atmosphere is consistently negative. Management operates via "fear and favor" rather than merit or clear strategy. There is a total lack of psychological safety; feedback is treated as insubordination, and blame-shifting is the primary method of problem-solving. Calling this place a "company" is a stretch. The internal culture is a literal cesspool where negativity is the only thing that grows. There is a total absence of ethics, and the leadership treats employees like disposable assets rather than human beings.
    6 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Digital Content Producer
    Sep 2025
    Sydney NSW 20002 to 3 years in the role, former employee
    My experience at Are Media was frustrating poor management, embarrassingly low pay, no recognition for hard work, and obvious favouritism. It was a demoralising environment where effort wasn’t valued.
    The good thingsThe people I made friends with
    The challengesAt Are Media, I found management challenging to work under, as there was little recognition or reward for hard work, and pay was not reflective of the effort required. At times, favouritism also impacted team morale, which made it difficult to feel valued.
    8 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Editorial Manager
    Feb 2025
    Sydney NSW 20003 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    A company on its knees
    The good thingsIconic brands, well located office, still a handful of good people in middle management and below.
    The challengesA top-down toxic work environment with a culture of blame shifting and a prevailing sense of panic and impending doom. Under resourced and overworked teams. Approach with caution.
    11 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Management Specialist
    Apr 2024
    Sydney NSW 20005 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    A company full of dedicated individuals that allow each other to be exactly who they are.
    The good thingsPeople here accept others with willingness and no ulterior motives. Well balanced career life and private life. Working with brands that are part of the Australian narrative.
    The challengesPrint publishing is not in a healthy state in Australia. Luckily the management has a clear direction to take the company into the future.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Editorial Staff
    Mar 2024
    Sydney NSW 2000
    Working here made me sick - literally.
    The good thingsThe opportunity to work with prestigious brands; central office.
    The challengesA toxic work culture with intense politics - everyone is always stressed, overworked and no one seems happy. All the employee wellbeing policies on paper do not translate into on the ground reality, making for a really unhealthy work environment.
    20 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Senior Leader
    Jul 2023
    Sydney NSW 2000former employee
    Traumatic by the end. There were always challenges but the last couple years have brought a level of toxicity I’ve not seen in real life.
    The good thingsThere are great people at Are Media who are excited by the brands and turn up to work with best intentions
    The challengesThe most toxic environment with an executive leadership (not all) that cannot actively listen and got their people management skills from watching US TV dramas.
    12 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Talent Acquisition Specialist
    Apr 2023
    Sydney NSW 20001 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    I am very much enjoying my role at Are Media. I love that I have the opportunity to work with such a dynamic and friendly team. I am passionate about the brands Are Media houses and it is exciting to see the business transform from a predominantly print business to an omni-channel organisation
    The good thingsThe people, environment and flexible working - I love how passionate the people who work at Are Media are, they are very proud of the brands they represent. Lovely open plan office space, a great buzz and vibe in the office. Flexible working, a great balance of WFH and office-based days :)
    The challengesStarting mid lockdown was a challenge - in saying that it was a very warm and friendly welcome.
    2.0
    Brand Specialist
    Mar 2023
    3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    No clear direction or support makes it a difficult organisation to thrive in.
    The good thingsMany of the employees are great people who are very creative and intelligent.
    The challengesManagement. There’s a real lack of emotional intelligence with many of the senior leaders and a deep culture of blame and toxicity.
    12 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Assistant
    Jan 2023
    Find some place better to work at
    The good thingsLow price sales items when they are no longer needed
    The challengesLow salary, bad work staff and little career development
    11 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Marketing Department
    Aug 2022
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    I met some really great people there, but at the end of the day I gave a lot to the business for very little in return.
    The good thingsThere were some really great people who made it worth going in everyday.
    The challengesMany of the senior managers made the atmosphere pretty depressing and toxic. There were some teams with good leaders in place who raised above and created a fun place to work.
    6 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Senior writer
    May 2022
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Tow the line smile speak only positively about work you’ll be ok but honestly and critique is not welcome in any way
    The good thingsBeauty sales and handful of people
    The challengesManagement level over saturated love to micro manage don’t trust staff not a nice work environment to work in anymore - esp the weekly magazines Dept
    9 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Strategist
    Mar 2020
    Would give 0/5 stars if I could
    The good thingsCampaigns and clients are great
    The challengesWorking in a toxic work environment
    7 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Digital Media Specialist
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Very few positives
    The good thingsVery flexible working environment and some really great people.
    The challengesThey're a very lean business with expectations that are unrealistic for the teams they have. Poor pay, well below market rate.
    5 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Group Accountant
    Nov 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Worse place to work
    The good thingsCasual dressing and that’s it
    The challengesPeople and systems. No structure.
    4 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Production
    Nov 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Great work experience but limited room for growth.
    The good thingsFun and friendly working culture , lot of staff non cash benefits .
    The challengesLimited opportunities for career development
    2 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Senior Writer
    Nov 2019
    former employee
    I loved working at Bauer but the pay is lousy.
    The good thingsGreat location and team spirit.
    The challengesLow pay and lousy HR department.
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Marketing Executive
    Sep 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    A once great industry, now in decline
    The good thingsbeauty sales of all the freebies that the mags get sent, central office location.
    The challengesConstant redudancies, management very secretive, no workplace culture.
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Systems Trainer
    Sep 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    chocking
    The good thingslocation, locaton, location
    The challengesmanagement issues, just not the right people in place
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Accounts Manager
    Jun 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Bauer Media is a magazine publishing business trying to survive in a digital media landscape
    The good thingsyour colleagues are lovely
    The challengesManagement Constant restructures Lack of career development & training shocking culture / work/life balance low salaries
    2 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Client Advisory Manager
    Jun 2019
    Loved my experience within a media agency. Nothing is perfect, but they are on the right track.
    The good thingsA company that truly looks after your health and well-being with great perks from meditation and free gym.
    The challengesThe industry is well known to work long hours and with demanding clients, with briefs that can change in a second.
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Digital Producer
    May 2019
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Good if you’re starting out, bad if you’re trying to move up
    The good thingsThe perks were good. Access to people and things you wouldn’t normally have access to
    The challengesManagement always changing. As a business, very unstable.
    3 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Analyst
    May 2019
    Been an awesome ride
    The good thingsPeople and work life balance n flexibility
    The challengesLack of budget makes it hard to achieve targets
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Agency Business Manager
    Nov 2018
    5 to 6 years in the role
    Publishing 101
    The good thingsAfter working in the business for upto six years, the people were the biggest standout for me. The business has some very talented and creative people and working on established brands provides a rich basis to build client ideas from.
    The challengesThe management style across the business is unfortunately antiquated. Old fashioned thinking is embedded throughout the company and there is a general feeling that the Australian arm of the business is constantly being watched by HQ. The commercial reality of what clients need is somewhat of a loose concept to most of editorial staff, and there is a constant struggle in balancing ‘editorial integrity’ with advertiser demands.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Advertising Manager
    Sep 2018
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Started as a great place to work, but management changes and cut-backs led to a chronically under-resourced business and under-qualified management who don't support their staff
    The good thingsSome good people working here, nice brands to work on. Great office location
    The challengesOver-worked staff due to under-resourced teams across the company. Lots of politics and ladder climbers. Management employ their friends instead of right person for the job. Zero career development.
    4 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Art department
    May 2018
    Fun team work but constantly in fear for my job
    The good thingsFun and collaborative team who respected each other’s roles
    The challengesConrinual disregard from management for the work put into the products
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Sales
    Mar 2018
    Glad I left!
    The good thingsSome good staff. Free magazines.
    The challengesAntiquated business practices. Little management support.
    3 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Implementation Executive
    Mar 2018
    Sydney NSW 2000
    Great fun, but ultimately left due to ever changing temas
    The good thingsFun teams to work with.
    The challengesHard to advance if you're not in with the upper management, very clickly
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Field Manager
    Dec 2017
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Wonderful company and staff to work with.
    The good thingsGreat product, Magazines that look beautiful and dealing with wonderful customers
    The challengesI thrive on challenges so enjoyed working under pressure to see the end result.
    2.0
    Data Entry Officer
    Nov 2017
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Frustrating
    The good thingsTeam leaders were great people. Product sales from various magazines.
    The challengesPark Street building old and depressing. Toilet floors and walls have never been cleaned during the time I was working there. Most people there are dead inside with a few exceptions of cool colleagues who made working there more bearable.
    3 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Finance Manager
    Nov 2017
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Enlightening
    The good thingsStaff and their work ethic
    The challengesPoor old ERP systems with no ERP investment. Outsourced functions and having to deal without th people overseas who did not know the business or customer base
    2 people found this helpful
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