The Washington Diplomat
The Washington Diplomat is a privately held digital media publication founded in 1994 in Washington, D.C., covering diplomatic news, ambassador profiles, and international affairs for embassies, U.S. government officials, policy professionals, and internationally engaged corporate executives, with event programming such as the Ambassador Insider Series.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Washington Diplomat does
The Washington Diplomat is a privately held digital media publication founded in 1994 by Victor Shiblie, headquartered in Washington, D.C. It produces news, ambassador profiles, and international affairs coverage targeting the Washington diplomatic community, including foreign ambassadors, embassy staff, U.S. government officials at the State Department, Capitol Hill, and the White House, as well as corporate executives engaged in international business. The publication's core product is a digital news platform (washdiplomat.com) with archives spanning from 2007 to present, supplemented by an Embassy Directory, categorized business directories (Automotive, Medical, Dining, Real Estate, etc.), and a subscription/newsletter service.
The company's business model rests on three revenue streams: subscription-based recurring access to editorial content, display and directory advertising, and event sponsorships tied to in-person programming. Its flagship event series, the Ambassador Insider Series, hosts ambassador interviews at embassy venues and D.C. locations, connecting diplomats with U.S. government officials and corporate sponsors. Additional event programming includes the State of Women's Health: A Global Edition (sponsored by Hologic), DC Diplomatic Day of Kindness, FIFA World Cup watch parties, and a 2026 FIFA World Cup guide. Corporate sponsors across energy (Apache Corp.), medical devices (Hologic, Viatris), insurance (Sahouri), transportation (Western Transportation Group), and other verticals underwrite this event activity. The underlying technology is a standard digital content management platform with no proprietary AI/ML components or API exposure; distribution is achieved through the website, email newsletter, and social media channels, with in-person events serving as the primary mid-funnel engagement mechanism.
The Washington Diplomat firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Washington Diplomat
- Legal name
- The Washington Diplomat
- Website
- https://washdiplomat.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Washington Diplomat is a privately held digital media publication founded in 1994 in Washington, D.C., covering diplomatic news, ambassador profiles, and international affairs for embassies, U.S. government officials, policy professionals, and internationally engaged corporate executives, with event programming such as the Ambassador Insider Series.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Washington Diplomat industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Diplomatic News and International Affairs Publishing
- NAICS
- Newspaper Publishers (513110), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Public Relations Agencies (54182)
- SIC
- Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), International Affairs (9721), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- News Agencies & Wire Services (General & Specialized) (MPAJADAE), Public Diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy & Strategic Communications (BPAIAIAE)
Keywords
Where The Washington Diplomat is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Washington Diplomat business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Subscription Revenue: The publication offers subscription-based access to content, with a 'Subscribe' button prominently featured on the website for readers seeking ongoing access to diplomatic news and analysis.
- Event Sponsorships: Washington Diplomat events such as the Ambassador Insider Series, State of Women's Health, and FIFA World Cup watch parties are sponsored by corporate partners including Apache Corp, Sahouri Insurance, Western Transportation Group, Viatris, Hologic, and others.
- Advertising: The publication carries advertising and maintains an 'Advertise' section on its website, offering promotional opportunities within the diplomatic and international affairs readership.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Washington Diplomat product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Washington Diplomat operates a digital news publication at washdiplomat.com that covers diplomatic news, ambassador profiles, international affairs, and Washington D.C.'s diplomatic community, supported by extensive archives dating back to 2007. It complements its journalism with hosted in-person events (including the Ambassador Insider Series, State of Women's Health forums, and FIFA World Cup watch parties), an online embassy directory, and subscription-based newsletter delivery.
Product overview
The Washington Diplomat is an online media publication offering a unified digital platform that combines news journalism covering diplomatic affairs, an event hosting system featuring the Ambassador Insider Series and diplomatic community gatherings, an Embassy Directory for Washington D.C., and subscription-based newsletter services. The core publication serves as the primary product, while events and directories function as complementary modules within the same platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Washington Diplomat Online Publication Digital news publication providing ongoing coverage of diplomatic news, ambassador profiles, international affairs, and Washington D.C.'s diplomatic community, with editorial archives dating back to 2007 and special sections such as Diplomatic Spotlight and People of World Influence. Targeted at the diplomatic community, U.S. government officials, policy professionals, and corporate executives.
- Diplomat Events (Ambassador Insider Series and Special Forums) Event hosting programming featuring the Ambassador Insider Series (in-person ambassador interviews), the State of Women's Health global forums, and FIFA World Cup embassy watch parties, designed to connect diplomats with U.S. government officials, policy professionals, and corporate executives. Sponsorship opportunities are offered to corporate partners.
- Embassy Directory Online directory of embassies in Washington D.C. providing links to foreign governments, U.S. government resources, and international organizations. Used by diplomats, government officials, corporate executives, and policy researchers to identify and contact foreign missions.
- Subscription Service (Newsletter) Newsletter subscription service that delivers ongoing updates on diplomatic news, ambassador profiles, and event programming directly to subscribers via email. Targeted at individual professionals and organizations engaged with the Washington diplomatic community.
- Special Section Business Directories Categorized online business directories covering Automotive, Medical, Dining, Retail, Hotels, Education, Culture, Real Estate, and Travel, published on the Washington Diplomat website as reference resources for the diplomatic and international community.
Companies that use The Washington Diplomat
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Washington Diplomat technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Washington Diplomat partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Hologic, Inc.minorHologic served as sponsor for the State of Women's Health: A Global Edition event held at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The event featured findings from the Hologic Global Women's Health Index.
- Apache Corp.minorApache Corp. served as sponsor for the Washington Diplomat's Ambassador Insider Series event featuring Egyptian Ambassador Motaz Zahran. Apache is described as the largest foreign investor in Egypt's energy sector.
- Sahouri Insurance / ABPA InstituteminorSahouri Insurance and ABPA Institute served as sponsors for the Ambassador Insider Series event featuring Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita.
- Western Transportation GroupminorEvent sponsor for past Ambassador Insider Series and other Washington Diplomat events.
- ViatrisminorEvent sponsor for past Ambassador Insider Series and other Washington Diplomat events.
- A-Reston LimominorEvent sponsor for past Ambassador Insider Series and other Washington Diplomat events.
- Meridian International CenterminorMeridian International Center partnered with Google Arts & Culture to celebrate America's semiquincentennial (250th anniversary of independence).
- The Embassy SeriesminorThe Embassy Series organizes concert events at the International Student House of Washington DC, featuring musicians from various countries. The Washington Diplomat lists these events as part of its programming.
- Washington Educational and Cultural Attaché AssociationminorWECAA sponsored the inaugural DC Diplomatic Day of Kindness event, bringing together diplomats from over 20 nationalities to volunteer at Covenant House International.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Washington Diplomat competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Politico: A major Washington D.C. political media organization with broad coverage of U.S. politics, policy, and international affairs. Larger incumbent that overlaps in audience (Capitol Hill, White House, State Department) and competes for advertising and event sponsorship dollars.
Direct peers
- Devex: A media platform covering global development, humanitarian aid, and international affairs with an event and subscription model. Comparable as a niche professional publication serving international affairs professionals with mixed content/event revenue.
- Foreign Policy: A flagship international affairs magazine and digital publication covering diplomacy, global policy, and geopolitics for a similar Washington D.C.-based professional audience. Direct peer due to overlapping content (ambassador coverage, foreign policy analysis) and similar B2B/subscription monetization.
- The National Interest: A digital magazine covering U.S. foreign policy and international affairs, with a similar online-first editorial model. Comparable as an independent foreign-policy publication competing for the same Washington policy professional readership.
- The Hill: A leading Washington D.C.-based political news outlet covering Congress, the White House, and policy. Comparable audience overlap (U.S. government officials, Capitol Hill, policy professionals) and DC political media model.
- World Politics Review: An online publication providing analysis of international affairs, foreign policy, and global politics. Closely aligned as a subscription-supported niche publication covering diplomacy and geopolitics.
- PassBlue: An independent online publication covering the United Nations and diplomatic community. Directly comparable as a niche digital news outlet focused on diplomats and international affairs professionals.
- The Diplomatic Courier: A global digital media platform covering diplomacy, international relations, and the diplomatic community. Comparable as a digital-first publication serving diplomats and foreign policy professionals.
Emerging players
- Just Security: An online forum for analysis of national security, foreign policy, and international law. Overlaps with Washington Diplomat's policy-professional audience but is non-profit/editorial-first rather than event-driven.
Regional players
- Embassy Magazine (Canada): A Canadian publication covering diplomatic, international affairs, and embassy news in Ottawa. Conceptually similar niche diplomatic community publication but serving a different geography (Canada vs. Washington D.C.).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Washington Diplomat social profiles
Digital presenceThe Washington Diplomat financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Washington Diplomat leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Washington Diplomat funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Washington Diplomat M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Washington Diplomat
What does The Washington Diplomat do?
The Washington Diplomat operates a digital news publication at washdiplomat.com that covers diplomatic news, ambassador profiles, international affairs, and Washington D.C.'s diplomatic community, supported by extensive archives dating back to 2007. It complements its journalism with hosted in-person events (including the Ambassador Insider Series, State of Women's Health forums, and FIFA World Cup watch parties), an online embassy directory, and subscription-based newsletter delivery.
Is The Washington Diplomat a public or private company?
The Washington Diplomat is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Washington Diplomat founded?
The Washington Diplomat was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Washington Diplomat based?
The Washington Diplomat is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Washington Diplomat make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription Revenue is the primary driver. The others are event Sponsorships and advertising.
Who are The Washington Diplomat's main competitors?
Politico is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Devex, Foreign Policy, The National Interest, The Hill, World Politics Review, PassBlue and The Diplomatic Courier. Just Security is listed as an emerging player. Embassy Magazine (Canada) is listed as a regional player.
Does The Washington Diplomat have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Washington Diplomat.
What industry is The Washington Diplomat in?
The Washington Diplomat's product category is Diplomatic News and International Affairs Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAO, News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines, with a secondary code of MPAJADAE, News Agencies & Wire Services (General & Specialized). Its NAICS code is 513110 and its SIC code is 2711.