[NUJ.LFB] NUJ Rate for the Job:
Words, per 1000 / news

Archived: 19 August 2008

These rates have been reported by members of the National Union of Journalists and others, and printed in the Freelance, newsletter of London Freelance Branch. They are sorted by publisher/publication, then by date (most recent first). TIP: Use the "Find in page" command under your browser's "Edit" menu to be sure of finding all occurrences of a publication/publisher. AND do note the year in which the rate was reported! See also the Freelance Fees Guide, which gives general recommendations. And read the disclaimer and the key to exactly what the entries mean.

^ Words, per 1000 / news

Work paid by the thousand words, whose primary use was in a newspaper.
These are archived rates - see current rates.
* Tell us what you've been paid for Words, per 1000 / news * Freelance Fees Guide
Publication/Programme - details & terms        Group Year ¤ Basic fee Extras
Al-Hayat 1995 GBP 200 -
Al-Hayat 1994 GBP 200 -
Al-Shar / Al Awsat 1994 GBP 80 - X
Al-Shar / Al Awsat 1994 GBP 120 -
Daily Express comment feature _UM 1998 GBP 533 -
Daily Express news _UM 1995 GBP 300 -
Daily Express Op-Ed _UM 1995 GBP 833 -
Daily Express London section _UM 1994 GBP 250 -
Daily Express (Jill Parkin, columnist: according to Private Eye) _UM 1994 GBP 570 -
Daily Express London section _UM 1994 GBP 200 -
Daily Express _UM 1993 GBP 150 -
Daily Mail health feature _Assoc 2000 GBP 550 -
Daily Mail (full page) _Assoc 1998 GBP 400 -
Daily Mail _Assoc 1997 GBP 350 -
Daily Mail 1 page _Assoc 1995 GBP 400 -
Daily Mail (Lynda Lee Potter, columnist: according to Private Eye) _Assoc 1994 GBP 1600 -
Daily Mail Femail _Assoc 1994 GBP 333 -
Daily Mirror _TMG 1996 GBP 350 -
Daily Mirror (Anne Diamond, columnist: according to Private Eye) _TMG 1994 GBP 1900 -
Daily Mirror Mirror Woman _TMG 1994 GBP 200 -
Daily Telegraph features _Holl 2000 GBP 400
Daily Telegraph _Holl 2000 GBP 500 - O
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1999 GBP 500 - O
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1998 GBP 312.50 -
Daily Telegraph Cash Clinic _Holl 1998 GBP 300 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1998 GBP 185 - X
Daily Telegraph Connected _Holl 1998 GBP 300 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1998 GBP 300 -
Daily Telegraph Business section _Holl 1998 GBP 250 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1997 GBP 300 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1997 GBP 340 -
Daily Telegraph features _Holl 1996 GBP 350 -
Daily Telegraph features _Holl 1996 GBP 400 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1996 GBP 500 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1996 GBP 500 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1996 GBP 300 -
Daily Telegraph Saturday Weekend section _Holl 1996 GBP 379 -
Daily Telegraph business section _Holl 1996 GBP 212.50 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1995 GBP 250 - X
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1995 GBP 250 - X
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1995 GBP 300 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1995 GBP 200 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1995 GBP 500 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1994 GBP 350 -
Daily Telegraph Magazine _Holl 1994 GBP 500 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1994 GBP 300 -
Daily Telegraph (Claudia FitzHerbert, columnist: according to Private Eye) _Holl 1994 GBP 680 -
Daily Telegraph specialist _Holl 1994 GBP 300 -
Daily Telegraph You and Your Family _Holl 1994 GBP 267 -
Daily Telegraph travel _Holl 1994 GBP 400 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1993 GBP 300 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1993 GBP 300 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1993 GBP 450 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1993 GBP 300 -
Daily Telegraph _Holl 1993 GBP 363 -
Evening Standard _Assoc 1998 GBP 111 - X
Evening Standard _Assoc 1998 GBP 555.55 -
Evening Standard _Assoc 1998 GBP 555.55 - O
Evening Standard _Assoc 1998 GBP 437.50 -
Evening Standard _Assoc 1998 GBP 450 -
Evening Standard _Assoc 1997 GBP 500 -
Evening Standard _Assoc 1997 GBP 437.50 -
Evening Standard _Assoc 1997 GBP 437.50 -
Evening Standard ES Magazine _Assoc 1996 GBP 300 -
Evening Standard features _Assoc 1995 GBP 500 -
Evening Standard ES magazine _Assoc 1995 GBP 300 -
Evening Standard features _Assoc 1995 GBP 178.57 -
Evening Standard features _Assoc 1995 GBP 140 - X
Evening Standard news _Assoc 1995 GBP 200 -
Evening Standard _Assoc 1995 GBP 700 -
Evening Standard city pages _Assoc 1994 GBP 143 - X
Evening Standard ES magazine _Assoc 1994 GBP 300 -
Evening Standard (Nigella Lawson and Allison Pearson, columnists: according to Private Eye) _Assoc 1994 GBP 880 -
Evening Standard _Assoc 1993 GBP 333.33 -
Evening Standard _Assoc 1993 GBP 156.25 -
Financial Times _Pearson 1999 GBP 250 -
Financial Times _Pearson 1998 GBP 263 -
Financial Times _Pearson 1998 GBP 200 -
Financial Times _Pearson 1995 GBP 200 -
Financial Times _Pearson 1995 GBP 130 - X
Financial Times _Pearson 1994 GBP 200 -
Financial Times _Pearson 1993 GBP 186.67 -
Guardian minimum rate under new agreement, including web use uplift _GMG 2004 GBP 255 HA
Guardian 300+ word concert review ie £100 _GMG 2002 GBP 285 15
Guardian Weekend section _GMG 2002 GBP 267 13
Guardian _GMG 2002 GBP 267 13
Guardian _GMG 2002 GBP 238 12
Guardian _GMG 2002 GBP 219 11
Guardian Environment section _GMG 2002 GBP 238 12
Guardian Monday section _GMG 2002 GBP 219 11
Guardian _GMG 2002 GBP 254 13
Guardian _GMG 2002 GBP 267 13
Guardian Society section _GMG 2002 GBP 286 14
Guardian _GMG 2002 GBP 237.50 12.50
Guardian feature _GMG 2002 GBP 237 13
Guardian obituaries no terms discussed _GMG 2002 GBP 215 GR XX
Guardian travel feature _GMG 2002 GBP 246.40 13.60
Guardian online section cover feature _GMG 2001 GBP 275
Guardian _GMG 2001 GBP 219 11 HA
Guardian Online section (FBS + web, database - Guardian agreement) _GMG 2001 GBP 267 13
Guardian Media section: 1000 word piece originated and written _GMG 2001 GBP 200 15 XXX
Guardian travel _GMG 2000 GBP 260
Guardian review _GMG 2000 GBP 285
Guardian Secretarial _GMG 2000 GBP 200 -
Guardian _GMG 1999 GBP 300 -
Guardian no exes! _GMG 1999 GBP 208 - X
Guardian Overseas, no exes! _GMG 1999 GBP 208 - X
Guardian Health Perspective _GMG 1998 GBP 200 -
Guardian _GMG 1998 GBP 300 -
Guardian _GMG 1998 GBP 500 -
Guardian _GMG 1998 GBP 350 -
Guardian _GMG 1998 GBP 200 -
Guardian _GMG 1997 GBP 208 -
Guardian Society section _GMG 1997 GBP 134.62 - XX
Guardian _GMG 1997 GBP 310 -
Guardian G2 section _GMG 1997 GBP 300 -
Guardian _GMG 1997 GBP 250 -
Guardian _GMG 1996 GBP 200 -
Guardian OnLine _GMG 1996 GBP 143 - XX
Guardian _GMG 1996 GBP 240 -
Guardian _GMG 1995 GBP 250 -
Guardian _GMG 1995 GBP 180 -
Guardian _GMG 1995 GBP 200 -
Guardian _GMG 1994 GBP 267 -
Guardian OnLine 'standard' 160, pays to _GMG 1994 GBP 250 -
Guardian _GMG 1994 GBP 200 -
Guardian Personal Finance _GMG 1994 GBP 160 -
Guardian Personal Finance _GMG 1994 GBP 200 -
Guardian _GMG 1994 GBP 200 -
Guardian (Suzanne Moore, columnist: according to Private Eye) _GMG 1994 GBP 410 -
Guardian Money Page, offered _GMG 1994 GBP 160 - XX
Guardian _GMG 1994 GBP 180 - X
Guardian _GMG 1994 GBP 220 -
Guardian women's page _GMG 1994 GBP 260 -
Guardian Jazz -- the magazine features _GMG 1994 GBP 100 - X
Guardian reviews _GMG 1994 GBP 70 - X
Guardian _GMG 1994 GBP 175 - X
Guardian arts/music _GMG 1994 GBP 160 - X
Guardian (really 200 most sections, if you push, usually all rights) _GMG 1993 GBP 150 - X
Guardian _GMG 1993 GBP 206.25 -
Guardian Education section _GMG 1993 GBP 200 -
Guardian _GMG 1992 GBP 200 -
Independent on Saturday magazine interview _INM 1998 GBP 200 - X
Independent on Sunday _INM 2002 GBP 200
Independent on Sunday _INM 2002 GBP 200 X
Independent on Sunday travel writing _INM 2001 GBP 200
Independent on Sunday _INM 2001 GBP 75 0 ???
Independent on Sunday Reality Mag feature _INM 2001 GBP 290
Independent on Sunday _INM 1998 GBP 200 -
Independent on Sunday Business _INM 1998 GBP 300 -
Independent on Sunday _INM 1998 GBP 125 - X
Independent on Sunday _INM 1996 GBP 400 -
Independent on Sunday _INM 1996 GBP 285.71 -
Independent on Sunday _INM 1996 GBP 200 - X
Independent on Sunday (7 days' work!) _INM 1996 GBP 150 - X
Independent on Sunday _INM 1995 GBP 200 - X
Independent on Sunday magazINMe _INM 1995 GBP 250 -
Independent on Sunday _INM 1995 GBP 250 -
Independent _INM 2002 GBP 200 X
Independent _INM 2002 GBP 150 XX
Independent _INM 2002 GBP 167
Independent specialist features (higher than paper's basic rate but some editors are paying this) all rights demanded - FSBR offered! _INM 2002 GBP 250
Independent _INM 1998 GBP 183.33 - X
Independent _INM 1998 GBP 200 -
Independent _INM 1998 GBP 200 -
Independent _INM 1997 GBP 160 - X
Independent _INM 1997 GBP 200 -
Independent _INM 1996 GBP 215.38 -
Independent Section 2 _INM 1996 GBP 160 - X
Independent Section 2 _INM 1996 GBP 220 -
Independent _INM 1996 GBP 180 -
Independent _INM 1995 GBP 200 -
Independent _INM 1995 GBP 200 -
Independent travel _INM 1995 GBP 175 - X
Independent _INM 1995 GBP 300 -
Independent _INM 1995 GBP 200 -
Independent _INM 1995 GBP 300 -
Independent Metro section _INM 1995 GBP 250 -
Independent _INM 1995 GBP 200 -
Independent _INM 1995 GBP 200 -
Independent _INM 1994 GBP 160 - X
Independent _INM 1994 GBP 200 -
Independent _INM 1994 GBP 200 -
Independent _INM 1993 GBP 250 -
Independent _INM 1993 GBP 200 -
Independent should be 200 _INM 1993 GBP 175 - X
Independent (specialist) _INM 1993 GBP 325 -
Independent _INM 1992 GBP 200 -
Independent _INM 1992 GBP 200 -
Independent _INM 1992 GBP 150 -
Independent _INM 1992 GBP 200 -
Independent feature _INM 1992 GBP 150 -
Irish Post _Smurf 1994 GBP 120 -
Irish Times _ITtrust 1995 GBP 85 -
Irish Times _ITtrust 1993 GBP 120 -
Mail on Sunday Financial _Assoc 1997 GBP 350 -
Mail on Sunday excl page lead _Assoc 1997 GBP 600 -
Mail on Sunday _Assoc 1996 GBP 400 -
Mail on Sunday _Assoc 1995 GBP 425 -
Mail on Sunday _Assoc 1995 GBP 750 -
Mail on Sunday ordered _Assoc 1993 GBP 300 -
Mail on Sunday (page lead) _Assoc 1993 GBP 500 -
Observer _GMG 1998 GBP 550 -
Observer Review (mag) _GMG 1998 GBP 400 -
Observer incl exes _GMG 1998 GBP 230 - X
Observer business section _GMG 1996 GBP 230 -
Observer business section _GMG 1996 GBP 250 -
Observer _GMG 1995 GBP 187.50 - X
Observer _GMG 1995 GBP 200 -
Observer _GMG 1995 GBP 375 -
Observer Life magazine _GMG 1994 GBP 500 -
Observer Life magazine _GMG 1994 GBP 300 -
Observer _GMG 1994 GBP 200 -
Observer (specialist) _GMG 1993 GBP 500 -
Observer magazine (expenses to 350) _GMG 1993 GBP 275 -
Observer _GMG 1993 GBP 250 -
San Francisco Chronicle 2200 word travel piece US$500; note US minimum should be $1 a word! 2003 GBP 145 XXX
Scotland on Sunday _BarcB 1995 GBP 100 -
Scotland on Sunday _BarcB 1994 GBP 250 -
Scotland on Sunday _BarcB 1994 GBP 100 - X
Scotsman Weekend cover feature, no exes _BarcB 1999 GBP 125 - XX
Scotsman _BarcB 1999 GBP 250 -
Scotsman _BarcB 1999 GBP 250 -
Scotsman _BarcB 1998 GBP 175 -
Scotsman _BarcB 1998 GBP 214 -
Scotsman review _BarcB 1998 GBP 130 -
Scotsman _BarcB 1996 GBP 140 -
Scotsman _BarcB 1996 GBP 85 - X
Scotsman _BarcB 1996 GBP 120 -
Scotsman (some editors are trying to cut rates to 85X) _BarcB 1995 GBP 100 -
Scotsman _BarcB 1995 GBP 120 -
Scotsman _BarcB 1994 GBP 250 -
Scotsman _BarcB 1994 GBP 100 - X
Sunday Express _UM 1995 GBP 875 -
Sunday Express _UM 1995 GBP 1000 -
Sunday Express features page _UM 1994 GBP 750 -
Sunday Express features page _UM 1994 GBP 1000 -
Sunday Independent _INM 1997 GBP 200 -
Sunday Mirror half page regular _TMG 1999 GBP 100 - XX
Sunday Telegraph _Holl 1996 GBP 312.50 -
Sunday Telegraph _Holl 1995 GBP 350 -
Sunday Telegraph _Holl 1995 GBP 500 -
Sunday Telegraph news _Holl 1994 GBP 400 -
Sunday Telegraph (Mary Kenny, columnist: according to Private Eye) _Holl 1994 GBP 490 -
Sunday Telegraph news _Holl 1994 GBP 333 -
Sunday Telegraph (Minette Marin, columnist: according to Private Eye) _Holl 1994 GBP 480 -
Sunday Telegraph (page lead) _Holl 1993 GBP 450 -
Sunday Times Magazine _NI 1998 GBP 400 -
Sunday Times Home supplement _NI 2001 GBP 350
Sunday Times magazine FBS _NI 2001 GBP 500
Sunday Times supplement FBS _NI 2001 GBP 556
Sunday Times _NI 2001 GBP 400
Sunday Times travel section _NI 2001 GBP 500
Sunday Times Doors section _NI 2001 GBP 500
Sunday Times travel _NI 2000 GBP 350
Sunday Times _NI 2000 GBP 400
Sunday Times Culture section _NI 2000 GBP 410 -
Sunday Times Style Supplement _NI 1999 GBP 625 -
Sunday Times Culture section _NI 1999 GBP 300 -
Sunday Times Innovation - for published words _NI 1999 GBP 300 - X
Sunday Times _NI 1998 GBP 410 -
Sunday Times Innovations _NI 1998 GBP 450 - O
Sunday Times Money Magazine _NI 1998 GBP 192 - X
Sunday Times _NI 1998 GBP 411.76 -
Sunday Times Innovation _NI 1998 GBP 300 -
Sunday Times Innovation section _NI 1997 GBP 300 - X
Sunday Times celebrity column _NI 1996 GBP 3000 -
Sunday Times _NI 1995 GBP 750 -
Sunday Times Innovations _NI 1995 GBP 300 -
Sunday Times _NI 1994 GBP 320 -
Sunday Times offered+refused _NI 1994 GBP 180 - XX
Sunday Times Innovations page: offered 180 (Member: 'Have I been done?' Ed: 'Yes') _NI 1994 GBP 200 - X
Sunday Times _NI 1993 GBP 200 - X
Sydney Morning Herald 1994 GBP 219 -
Times FBS _NI 2002 GBP 425 O
Times foreign news story, commissioned 700 words for £90 _NI 2002 GBP 128.57 XXX
Times _NI 1999 GBP 375 -
Times weekend _NI 1998 GBP 300 -
Times Interface _NI 1998 GBP 200 - X
Times supplement _NI 1998 GBP 200 -
Times _NI 1997 GBP 400 -
Times 1015 supplement _NI 1997 GBP 400 -
Times Interface supplement _NI 1997 GBP 200 -
Times _NI 1995 GBP 200 - X
Times _NI 1995 GBP 220 -
Times arts review _NI 1994 GBP 300 -
Times Saturday Review; reputedly if well-connected _NI 1992 GBP 750 -
Times _NI 1992 GBP 250 -
Today feature 1994 GBP 600 -
Today (Anne Robinson, columnist: according to Private Eye) 1994 GBP 3800 -
Voice (usual offer) _VTA 1994 GBP 40 - XX
Voice _VTA 1993 GBP 70 -
Voice _VTA 1993 GBP 120 -
Weekly Journal 1995 GBP 70 -
Weekly Journal 1995 GBP 70 -
Weekly Journal 1994 GBP 70 -
Weekly Journal (1500 think-piece @ 200) 1994 GBP 133 -
Weekly Journal 1993 GBP 70 -
Observer News Service _GMG 1993 GBP 100 -

The above are the rates for Words, per 1000 / news ARCHIVED on 19 August 2008.

 
Key to the rates, by column:
1 Publication/Programme, any details of work and licence
2 Owner at the time the rate was reported, where knownGroup
3 The year in which the rate was reportedYear
4 Currency: either GBP or EUR¤
5 Amount paid for basic licence - e.g. first use in print: Basic fee
6 Paid for extra licences - web use, database resale... (no data pre Jun 2000) ...Extras
7 "Going Rate" according to experienced NUJ members - do try to better it: ......GR
or Minimum rate set out in NUJ House Agreement (more will be made soon): ......HA
8 Underpaid, in the fallible opinion of the Freelance editor:GBP500X
or Just sometimes we're pleasantly surprised:EUR1500300O
 

Other rates: Click below... For...
Words, per 1000 News Local Mag online Book PR Other writing, paid per 1000 words
Words, other News Local Mag online Book PR Other writing, paid per page, per item, etc
Photography News Local Mag online Book PR Other pix whether paid by the piece or the day
Broadcasting News Local Other including podcasting all sorts of radio & TV work
Shifts News Local Mag online Book PR Other work paid by the day; e.g. sub-editing
Other: Cartoon | Crossword | Illustration | Punditry | Retainer | Teaching | Tip-off | Translation
  Recently reported rates all rates reported in the past few months
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Texts & collection © 19 August 2008 NUJ; disclaimer.