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NUJ Rate for the Job:
Words, other
Updated: 2025-07-09
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" or "Search" 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.
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Words whose primary purpose is to appear in a book. We'll worry about how to tabulate royalty deals when you send some. If you are interested, the archived rates are here. | ||||||
Tell us what you've been paid for Words, other / books |
Freelance Fees Guide
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| Publication / Programme - details & terms | Group | Year |  |
Total paid | GR |
XXXX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lonely Planet online travel service piece (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 |  |
290.00 | |||
| AC/DC and Queen rock biog (Voyageur Books, US) update chapters, add 1500-2000 words | 2014 | |
1000.00 | |||
| Academic reference annual publications regular writing and copyediting of material for publication in academic reference titles and online; payment per hour | _Informa | 2022 |  |
18.50 | XX | |
| Art book two artist profiles - reported on Twitter | 2023 | |
1200.00 | |||
| Book authorship writing 15,000 word book, all rights (copyright assigned) | 2019 | |
1500.00 | X | ||
| Book for young readers 3000 words, royalty advance | _NI | 2016 | |
850.00 | XX | |
| Carlton Books: History of Music synopsis for 192-page book + 3 presentation spreads | 2017 | |
150.00 | XXX | ||
| Chicago Review Press usual fee for re-use of a musician interview in a book | 2025 | |
100.00 | |||
| Chicago Review Press exceptional fee for re-use of a musician interview in a book | 2025 | |
1000.00 | |||
| Chicago Review Press re-use in book of 1986 Joni Mitchell feature licensed for this book only | 2017 | |
400.00 | |||
| Dorling Kindersley offered for text for highly-illustrated Knowledge Encyclopedia - had difficulty finding a freelance at this rate - per spread | 2023 | |
200.00 | |||
| Industry-specific Guide Book (How to...) researching and writing 50,000 word book, including about 20 original interviews, about 4 weeks full time and 4 months part time. - exclusive license for 5 years, then copyright reverts to author | 2018 | |
5000.00 | |||
| Medicine & Health Science books Writing 7 * 200 word sections, briefing artist on each all rights | 2015 | |
140.00 | XX | ||
| Nirvana rock biog reproduce transcript of interview from 1993 | 2014 | |
250.00 | |||
| Nonfiction publisher 50,000 words, took up to 200 hours (in 2015): all rights; had a bestseller clause but threshold not reached | 2022 | |
5000.00 | |||
| Pen and Sword books royalty on UK hardback sales - percent of net | 2024 |  |
10.00 | XX | ||
| Pen and Sword books 70,000 words plus 16 or 32 images that the author sources - advance , terms - stated on website | 2024 | |
1250.00 | |||
| Pen and Sword books royalty on non-UK and paperback sales - percent of net | 2024 | |
7.50 | |||
| Pen and Sword books royalty on digital sales - percent of net | 2024 | |
15.00 | |||
| Penguin Books essay from a fanzine used in a book without author permission - negotiated up from £150 | 2022 | |
250.00 | |||
| Penguin nonfiction writing, per day: "they keep changing the spec" so it's working out at less than | _PRH | 2018 | |
100.00 | XXX | |
| Philosophy book writing: £50 per page, 250 words plus planning and proof checking | _DK | 2023 | |
50.00 | XXX | |
| Russian book publisher licensing Russian translation of a book on music - up to | 2021 |  |
2000.00 | |||
| Russian book publisher licensing Russian translation of a book on music - (not clear whether this involved sub-licensing photos etc) | 2021 | |
800.00 | |||
| Updating career resources Small Publishing company: research, updating text, checking websites, replacing some material 35 hours | 2014 | |
600.00 | |||
| Updating career resources Small Publishing company: research, updating text, checking websites, replacing some material 35 hours | 2014 | |
600.00 | |||
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Work for which we have no rate-per-thousand-words, whose primary use is in a magazine. If you are interested, the archived rates are here. | ||||||
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Tell us what you've been paid for Words, other / mags |
Freelance Fees Guide
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| Publication / Programme - details & terms | Group | Year | |
Total paid | GR |
XXXX |
| Aesthetica 2000 word article (art/photography/film/architecture feature including interview) | __misc | 2016 | |
95.00 | GR | XXX |
| After Nyne 600 words, offered and refused! | 2016 | |
6.00 | |||
| Art Basel roundup of arts events in UAE - reported on Twitter - 800 Swiss Francs = | 2023 | |
717.00 | |||
| Artforum review of art exhibition in Dubai - reported on Twitter | 2023 | |
200.00 | |||
| Artforum roundup of arts events in Saudi Arabia - reported on Twitter | 2023 | |
250.00 | |||
| Artforum review of art exhibition in Saudi - reported on Twitter | 2023 | |
200.00 | |||
| Artsy short profile of an artist - reported on Twitter | 2023 | |
400.00 | |||
| Barrister magazine per job; 750-1250 words | 2025 | |
120.00 | XX | ||
| BBC Good Food top 10 list feature, 600-700 words all rights | _BBC | 2014 | |
150.00 | GR | |
| BBC Good Food top 10 list feature, 600-700 words all rights | _BBC | 2014 | |
150.00 | GR | |
| Betches online magazine (reported to journoresources.org.uk) candid essays and humour pieces, up to | 2025 | |
400.00 | |||
| British Medical Journal 1300-word feature - | 2018 | |
395.00 | |||
| Building Products researching and writing an article about construction materials | 2022 | |
200.00 | XXX | ||
| Business Insider (reported to journoresources.org.uk) per story? | 2025 | |
249.00 | |||
| Bustle Twitter call for personal essays and reported features about living with recurring MS - stated minimum | 2024 | |
500.00 | |||
| Canvas piece on performance art in UAE - reported on Twitter | 2023 | |
700.00 | |||
| Canvas On jinn - reported on Twitter | 2023 | |
700.00 | |||
| Chatelaine feature for Canadian magazine - CA$4000 = | 2022 | |
2473.00 | |||
| CNET (reported to journoresources.org.uk) review antivirus software and monitors, from | 2025 | |
250.00 | |||
| CNET (reported to journoresources.org.uk) review antivirus software and monitors, up to | 2025 | |
2000.00 | |||
| Computer Weekly (TechTarget Inc.) Top-performing bloggers - paid according to number of page views - per month | __misc | 2014 | |
300.00 | ||
| Computer Weekly (TechTarget Inc.) Top-performing bloggers - paid according to number of page views - per month | __misc | 2014 | |
300.00 | ||
| Condé Nast Traveller 200-word review | _CondN | 2016 | |
100.00 | ||
| Country Music album review, 90 words | _Anthem | 2018 | |
9.00 | XXXX | |
| Courier London feature based on interview with one business owner, flat rate (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
100.00 | |||
| DJ magazine album reviews of unspecified length member remarks "kinflints & didn't pay" | 2016 | |
20.00 | |||
| Economist online feature flat rate (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
400.00 | |||
| Economist Pieces of varying length for various online sections - flat freelance rate with no expenses | __misc | 2020 | |
100.00 | XXXX | |
| Empire 70 word dvd review | _Bauer | 2014 | |
40.00 | ||
| English Language Gazette 900 words + photo | 2017 | |
160.00 | |||
| English Teaching Professional (Pavilion) 1400 @ £80 = FBS | 2014 | |
57.00 | XXXX | ||
| English Teaching Professional (Pavilion) 1400 @ £80 = FBS | 2014 | |
57.00 | XXXX | ||
| Fabulous Real Life piece - | 2018 | |
350.00 | |||
| Fair Planet 100 lines + interactive | 2016 | |
100.00 | |||
| Forbes magazine online Seven short items for online edition - plus per-hit add-on (not lucrative!) | 2020 | |
500.00 | X | ||
| Fortean Times 1600 words + pics , prod/exes + pics fee yet to be negotiated rate is above new standard rates which have fallen even lower | _Dennis | 2016 | |
100.00 | XX | |
| Fortean Times 3000 word feature + pics + (limited) exes, pics still to be negotiated, talked up even worse per word rate offered | _Dennis | 2014 | |
225.00 | XX | |
| Fortean Times 3000 word feature + pics + (limited) exes, pics still to be negotiated, talked up even worse per word rate offered | _Dennis | 2014 | |
225.00 | XX | |
| Forum New York £20 offered to Virginia Woolf, for controversial articles only, in 1938 = in 2024 money | 2024 | |
1130.00 | |||
| Frieze piece on Berlin Biennale - reported on Twitter | 2023 | |
175.00 | X | ||
| Frieze review - reported on Twitter | 2023 | |
300.00 | |||
| Frieze on Istanbul biennale - reported on Twitter | 2023 | |
227.00 | |||
| Glamour feature says "Rights" - all? | _CondN | 2014 | |
700.00 | O | |
| Glamour feature says "Rights" - all? | _CondN | 2014 | |
700.00 | O | |
| Green Parent article (no pics demanded) | 2015 | |
75.00 | |||
| Harpers Bazaar Virginia Woolf - last reported rate, for story Lappin and Lapinova - US$600 in 1939 = now approx. | _CondN | 2022 | |
12400.00 | ||
| HuffPost 3-4 edits took months and was a very dispiriting experience. Commissioned in February, paid in November? - | 2021 | |
101.00 | XX | ||
| In These Times short dispatches and op-eds | 2024 | |
375.00 | |||
| Interweave Knits 1500 word feature including a few pics (sourced from interviewees) would have better if the USD exchange rate was better | 2016 | |
600.00 | |||
| Ireland's Eye feature story interviewing three people , - no expenses (further work declined) | 2025 | |
15.00 | GR | XXXX | |
| Love Magazine feature, 500 to 1000 words (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
200.00 | |||
| Lussorian reviews | 2019 | |
100.00 | X | ||
| Marketing USA magazine 1600 words, pics, stats, research interviews | 2016 | |
500.00 | O | ||
| mbr (Mountain Bike Rider) per piece? All rights | _IPC | 2015 | |
75.00 | ||
| Metropolitan Restaurant review | _Ink | 2016 | |
100.00 | ||
| Middle East Eye feature | 2018 | |
350.00 | GR | ||
| Modern Farmer* flat rate (2015) | 2023 | |
250.00 | |||
| Mojo album review | _Bauer | 2019 | |
43.00 | X | |
| Mojo re-use of article from 2005 - | _Bauer | 2018 | |
100.00 | ||
| Mosaic Science (Wellcome Trust) 5500 words @ £1800 for extensive formal fact-checking, interview transcripts required, a very lengthy process but one-to-one comprehensive editorial input with enthusiastic collaborative ethos. Issued under Creative Commons so artic | 2017 | |
327.00 | |||
| Motley Fool Offered per article - and refused | 2021 | |
45.00 | XXX | ||
| Mousse magazine essay on an artist - reported on Twitter | 2023 | |
500.00 | |||
| New Internationalist feature plus photo (2022) | 2024 | |
225.00 | |||
| New Internationalist unspecified wordcount plus photos | 2017 | |
400.00 | |||
| New Statesman news story (1200-1500 words - spiked) (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
90.00 | XXX | ||
| New York Herald Tribune Review Virginia Woolf records in September 1927 reviewing Ernest Hemingway, Men Without Women for £120 - in 2019 money | 2020 | |
7600.00 | O | ||
| Notebook Celebrity Q+A - | 2018 | |
250.00 | |||
| Planet Rock 170-word album review | _Bauer | 2017 | |
40.00 | ||
| Politico Europe News feature, foreign reporting, flat rate for 1000 to 1500 words (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
450.00 | |||
| Pro Sound News Europe preparation of 1500-word convention report all rights, no expenses | _Intent | 2017 | |
300.00 | GR | |
| Pro Sound News Europe preparation of 300-word feature profile all rights, no expenses | _Intent | 2017 | |
75.00 | XX | |
| Pro Sound News Europe preparation of 500-word feature profile; all rights, no expenses | _Intent | 2017 | |
100.00 | GR | |
| Project (Association for Project Management) a one-off last-minute commission when another writer proved unavailable - flat freelance rate with no expenses | 2020 | |
250.00 | X | ||
| Protean magazine soliciting criticism, news analysis, reviews, and essays at a per-piece rate of | 2023 | |
300.00 | |||
| Q album review, down-page (same as a decade ago) | _Bauer | 2019 | |
42.50 | X | |
| Quietus lead review (album) | 2015 | |
50.00 | |||
| Reader's Digest news feature (length unspecified) | _Vivat | 2018 | |
450.00 | ||
| Readers Digest profile piece - FBS | _Vivat | 2024 | |
400.00 | ||
| Resident Advisor feature 5000-7000 words (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
600.00 | |||
| Rewire News review 1100 words - told this was a flat fee (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
250.00 | |||
| Rock Hub UK album review of unspecified length | 2016 | |
20.00 | XXX | ||
| SHINDIG! (Silverback Publishing) ten-entry listicle & intro, 1100 words overall, suggested might lead to "the odd £50" in future - refused! | 2015 | |
0.00 | GR | XXXX | |
| Shindig feature, flat rate no matter what length (could be thousands of words) | 2025 | |
150.00 | GR | XXX | |
| Skin Deep submitted an article around 1500 words | 2014 | |
150.00 | |||
| Skin Deep submitted an article around 1500 words | 2014 | |
150.00 | |||
| Songlines review | 2019 | |
15.00 | XXX | ||
| Spectator live music review, 600 words @ £150 for print use only = | 2020 | |
250.00 | |||
| Star Trek List, 1000 to 2000 words (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
250.00 | |||
| Studio International 2000-3000 word interview | 2020 | |
250.00 | GR | X | |
| Studio International interview / video review | 2014 | |
250.00 | |||
| Sunday Times Magazine article on cave paintings in the Colombian Amazon - easily a week of work | 2020 | |
1000.00 | O | ||
| Take a Break Real Life page - | _Bauer | 2018 | |
350.00 | ||
| Take a Break Real Life double-page spread - | _Bauer | 2018 | |
700.00 | ||
| Teen Breathe 800 to 1000 words (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
100.00 | |||
| Teen Vogue article, length unspecified | _CondN | 2025 | |
350.00 | ||
| The Adelphi article in a former highbrow magazine about appearance and reality, by Joan Easdale, reported by Virginia Woolf; 5 guineas in 1937 = | 2021 | |
366.00 | |||
| The Atlantic reportage | 2017 | |
250.00 | XX | ||
| The Atlantic* news flat rate (2015) | 2023 | |
100.00 | XXX | ||
| The Atlantic* news flat rate (2015) | 2023 | |
200.00 | XX | ||
| The Atlantic* news flat rate (2015) | 2023 | |
150.00 | XX | ||
| The Break Down (reported to journoresources.org.uk) per piece | 2025 | |
900.00 | |||
| The Culture Trip feature/listicle 600 words up to (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
60.00 | XX | ||
| The Cut website feature (via Freelancer Solidarity Project) | 2023 | |
1500.00 | |||
| The Ecologist magazine news and op-ed writing - no terms agreed no exes | 2020 | |
0.00 | XXXX | ||
| The Guardian (a magazine fot the clergy) Virginia Woolf, first published reviews - 2 pounds 7 shillings and 6 pence for three in 1905 = now, each | 2022 | |
102.00 | |||
| The Media Line 800 word article plus stills | 2025 | |
400.00 | XX | ||
| The Quietus feature | __misc | 2021 | |
100.00 | GR | X |
| The Quietus a Quietus Interview | 2016 | |
50.00 | XX | ||
| The Rugby Paper 250-word on-the-whistle match report, national leagues | 2021 | |
25.00 | XX | ||
| The Trade News article, 500 words-ish | 2014 | |
130.00 | |||
| The Trade News article, 500 words-ish | 2014 | |
130.00 | |||
| The Week Junior longer-form pieces in 2018, length unspecified | 2022 | |
200.00 | |||
| The Wire 600-word review | 2015 | |
42.00 | |||
| Tricycle (Buddhist magazine) pitched 1200w Q&A with questions agreed in advance, supplied with photo | 2024 | |
224.00 | GR | ||
| Uncut album review, 100 words | 2018 | |
25.00 | |||
| Vice UK investigative news story | 2018 | |
250.00 | |||
| Wired feature, 1200 words @ £400 - all rights | _CondN | 2021 | |
333.00 | GR | |
| Writers Forum features, FBS | 2019 | |
120.00 | X | ||
| An American online music magazine features, 2000 to 3000 words - One use for a while, then all-rights contract presented to writer and rejected | 2021 | |
500.00 | X | ||
| B2B (business-to-business) articles on pitching and writing - not taxed at source; individual article; no expenses involved | 2022 | |
600.00 | GR | ||
| Japanese magazine translation rights in 1988 Joni Mitchell feature - paid £500 to syndication agency - | 2021 | |
250.00 | |||
| Local magazine article for a local monthly magazine 1200 words with images | 2023 | |
80.00 | |||
| military.com (reported to journoresources.org.uk) movie column from | 2025 | |
400.00 | |||
| Music magazine payment for article re-used without permission - 75 per cent of original fee - | 2022 | |
300.00 | |||
| Music magazine negotiated payment for article re-used without permission - 75 per cent of original fee | 2022 | |
300.00 | |||
| Novara Media 1000 words plus video (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
150.00 | XX | ||
| Scholastic 4-page classroom magazine feature (via Freelancer Solidarity Project) | 2023 | |
1200.00 | |||
| Sporting magazine features (Schedule D taxed - at source) | _Future | 2014 | |
400.00 | GR | |
| Trade magazine Re-use of text from an email newsletter | 2020 | |
200.00 | |||
| Trade magazine Re-use of text from an email newsletter | 2020 | |
400.00 | |||
| Travel magazine feature on whether (and when) an airline branded-credit card is worth it - offered on Twitter | 2023 | |
600.00 | |||
| Travel magazine feature on ways to keep track of your rewards credit cards and benefits - offered on Twitter | 2023 | |
500.00 | |||
| Unnamed magazine writing 580-1000 words - half page | 2022 | |
150.00 | |||
| Unnamed small trade publication 400-word investigative story | 2015 | |
100.00 | |||
| US magazines Virginia Woolf records that in July 1923 - before she was famous - US magazines were offering her £25 for reviews - in 2019 prices that is: | 2020 | |
1523.00 | |||
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Work for which we have no rate-per-thousand-words, whose primary use is in a national newspaper. See also regional papers. If you are interested, the archived rates are here. | ||||||
|
Tell us what you've been paid for Words, other / news |
Freelance Fees Guide
|
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| Publication / Programme - details & terms | Group | Year | |
Total paid | GR |
XXXX |
| i newspaper around 500 word sports interview with major official | _Johnsto | 2017 | |
90.00 | GR | XX |
| Al Jazeera photo story 500 words (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
400.00 | |||
| Byline Times opinion piece | 2024 | |
150.00 | X | ||
| Christian Science Monitor 900 word web piece @ $300 = | 2017 | |
333.00 | |||
| Daily Express column stick - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette £40 to £90. | _TMG | 2022 | |
60.00 | GR | XX |
| Daily Herald high school sports 400-600 words (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
50.00 | |||
| Daily Mail Scotland page lead. Rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette | _Assoc | 2022 | |
120.00 | XXX | |
| Daily Mail page lead, according to Jon Harris, the chairman of the National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of Manchester-based news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - expenses paid | _Assoc | 2022 | |
150.00 | XXXX | |
| Daily Mail "column stick" (13 ems = approx 55mm wide) - £40 to £75 per column stick | _Assoc | 2022 | |
40.00 | XX | |
| Daily Mail feature, full-page | _Assoc | 2020 | |
800.00 | O | |
| Daily Mail Max Hastings column, each (according to Private Eye) - | _Assoc | 2018 | |
3000.00 | ||
| Daily Mail Online article, length unspecified | _Assoc | 2016 | |
350.00 | ||
| Daily Mirror column stick - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - column sticks £35 to £65, column is 13 m-dash characters wide | _TMG | 2022 | |
65.00 | XX | |
| Daily Mirror column stick - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - column sticks £35 to £65, column is 13 m-dash characters wide | _TMG | 2022 | |
35.00 | XX | |
| Daily Star page lead - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette | _TMG | 2022 | |
120.00 | GR | XXX |
| Daily Star small column stick - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette | _TMG | 2022 | |
20.00 | GR | XX |
| Daily Star large column stick - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - £30 to £60 per large column stick | _TMG | 2022 | |
30.00 | GR | XX |
| Daily Star NIB (News In Brief) item rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette | _TMG | 2022 | |
10.00 | GR | XX |
| Daily Telegraph column stick, 200+ words - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - £35 to £75 words depending on length | _BarcB | 2022 | |
35.00 | GR | XX |
| Daily Telegraph column stick, less than 200 words - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - £25 to £35 | _BarcB | 2022 | |
35.00 | XX | |
| Daily Telegraph page lead - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette | _BarcB | 2022 | |
110.00 | GR | XXXX |
| Daily Telegraph column stick, 200+ words - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - £35 to £75 words depending on length | _BarcB | 2022 | |
75.00 | GR | XX |
| Daily Telegraph column stick, less than 200 words - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - £25 to £35 | _BarcB | 2022 | |
25.00 | XX | |
| El Mundo per online piece of any length | 2015 | |
35.00 | XXX | ||
| Financial Times Round-up property article with sourcing of images | _Nikkei | 2021 | |
250.00 | O | |
| Guardian commissioned blog post or Pick of the Day - house agreement rate | _GMG | 2025 | |
102.50 | HA | |
| Guardian front page lead - rate for regional agencies specified in document dated 13/12/2011 and still referenced online | _GMG | 2024 | |
220.00 | XXX | |
| Guardian page 3 lead - rate for regional agencies specified in document dated 13/12/2011 and still referenced online | _GMG | 2024 | |
200.00 | XXX | |
| Guardian other page lead - rate for regional agencies specified in document dated 13/12/2011 and still referenced online | _GMG | 2024 | |
150.00 | XXX | |
| Guardian down-page story - rate for regional agencies specified in document dated 13/12/2011 and still referenced online | _GMG | 2024 | |
50.00 | XXXX | |
| Guardian secondary page lead - rate for regional agencies specified in document dated 13/12/2011 and still referenced online | _GMG | 2024 | |
100.00 | XXX | |
| Guardian on farm animal welfare topics, length unspecified | _GMG | 2020 | |
200.00 | ||
| Guardian The Long Read 3000 - 4000 words | _GMG | 2018 | |
2500.00 | ||
| Guardian The Long Read 3000 - 4000 words - expenses paid | _GMG | 2018 | |
4000.00 | O | |
| Guardian Australia opinion (blog) AU$ 328 each = | _GMG | 2025 | |
166.00 | HA | |
| Guardian Long Read 5000 words of in-depth reporting | _GMG | 2018 | |
2500.00 | ||
| Guardian USA blog post | _GMG | 2025 | |
150.00 | HA | |
| i newspaper sports feature 900 words around - | _Johnsto | 2018 | |
110.00 | ||
| i newspaper match report 800 words not football - | _Johnsto | 2018 | |
100.00 | ||
| i newspaper small exclusive for sports pages, not football - | _Johnsto | 2018 | |
130.00 | ||
| i newspaper 400-word quotes-led sports story from foreign capital @ £60 = | _Johnsto | 2017 | |
150.00 | ||
| i newspaper sports news writing (website only) | _Johnsto | 2017 | |
50.00 | GR | |
| i newspaper Press conference write-up FBS | _Johnsto | 2017 | |
100.00 | GR | |
| i newspaper 370-word sports piece, negotiated up from £80 FBS | _Johnsto | 2017 | |
90.00 | ||
| Independent obituaries | _INM | 2021 | |
65.00 | XXX | |
| Independent Writing one obituary | _Lebedev | 2021 | |
65.00 | GR | XXX |
| Independent op-ed up to (via #FreelancerPayGap) | _Lebedev | 2020 | |
250.00 | ||
| Irish Examiner book reviewing, licensed First Serial rights | _ITtrust | 2023 | |
150.00 | X | |
| LA Times* news flat rate (2015) | 2023 | |
300.00 | |||
| Mail on Sunday interview 800-1200 words - told this was a flat fee (via #FreelancerPayGap) | _Assoc | 2020 | |
500.00 | ||
| Mail on Sunday news story | _Assoc | 2016 | |
200.00 | ||
| Mail On Sunday page lead news story | _Assoc | 2015 | |
500.00 | O | |
| Mail Online story - size unspecified | _Assoc | 2025 | |
50.00 | XX | |
| Mail online page lead | _Assoc | 2020 | |
40.00 | XXXX | |
| Mail Online full-page story, length unspecified | _Assoc | 2020 | |
40.00 | XXX | |
| Mail online 'real life' story - made lead on femail second UK serial rights | _Assoc | 2014 | |
40.00 | GR | X |
| Metro find and write up case study, 800 words, source five photos | _Metro | 2025 | |
150.00 | XX | |
| Mirror Friday entertainment section feature (in 2000) | _TMG | 2019 | |
1800.00 | O | |
| Mirror Friday entertainment section feature (in 2018) | _TMG | 2019 | |
800.00 | X | |
| Mirror Online story - size unspecified | _TMG | 2025 | |
100.00 | XX | |
| New European features, print and/or online, 1200-2000 words | __misc | 2021 | |
225.00 | ||
| New York Times online trend piece (via #FreelancerPayGap) | _NYT | 2020 | |
250.00 | ||
| Novara Media per article | 2025 | |
195.00 | GR | ||
| Observer Celebrity Q+A - | _GMG | 2018 | |
250.00 | ||
| Paste magazine TV review (via Freelancer Solidarity Project) | 2023 | |
100.00 | |||
| Private Eye story | 2023 | |
180.00 | |||
| Scottish Daily Mail 16 hours, face-to-face interview, death knock, care dispute, complicated news - none , expenses 60 | _Assoc | 2025 | |
200.00 | GR | XXX |
| Scottish Daily Mail news story, basement / wing | _Assoc | 2024 | |
150.00 | XX | |
| Scottish Sun online Copy (length unspecified) | _NI | 2017 | |
35.00 | X(?) | |
| Shondaland Digital Media author interview (via Freelancer Solidarity Project) | 2023 | |
550.00 | |||
| Sun on Sunday Page lead - | _NI | 2018 | |
500.00 | ||
| Sun 500-word article plus 90 seconds of video - 24 hr exclusive | _NI | 2025 | |
400.00 | X | |
| Sun investigative piece for Sun Money - FBS | _NI | 2024 | |
450.00 | ||
| Sun page lead - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - non-exclusive £110, £100 if "small" | _NI | 2022 | |
110.00 | GR | XXXX |
| Sun column stick - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette £35 to £50 depending on size | _NI | 2022 | |
50.00 | GR | XX |
| Sun NIB item - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette | _NI | 2022 | |
10.00 | GR | XX |
| Sun exclusive page lead inside (same rate as 1989!) | _NI | 2017 | |
950.00 | ||
| Sun Online story - size unspecified | _NI | 2025 | |
100.00 | XX | |
| Sunday Mirror True-life feature - first newspaper rights only, once only print and online; exclusive for one week | _TMG | 2018 | |
2000.00 | O | |
| Sunday Mirror Real Life dougle-page spread - | _TMG | 2018 | |
1500.00 | ||
| Sunday Mirror Real Life page - | _TMG | 2018 | |
750.00 | ||
| Sunday Mirror news piece, length unspecified | _TMG | 2015 | |
250.00 | ||
| Sunday Times paid to the economist Maynard Keynes in 1921 - per article (unspecified) according to Virginia Woolf £120 - now worth | _NI | 2023 | |
4640.00 | X | |
| Sunday Times A Life In The Day full-page feature in colour supplement (weekly feature) | _NI | 2021 | |
800.00 | ||
| Sunday Times page lead news story with shared by-line - | _NI | 2018 | |
300.00 | ||
| Telegraph obituaries | _BarcB | 2021 | |
175.00 | X | |
| Telegraph 1000-word feature,with photographs, terms FBS | _BarcB | 2019 | |
500.00 | GR | |
| Telegraph one story | _BarcB | 2019 | |
60.00 | XXXX | |
| Telegraph Real Life / "one day" - | _BarcB | 2018 | |
200.00 | ||
| Telegraph page lead (no length) | _BarcB | 2014 | |
110.00 | Y | |
| Telegraph page lead (no length) | _BarcB | 2014 | |
110.00 | Y | |
| Telegraph magazine - money section 1200-word celeb interview @ £400 = | _BarcB | 2014 | |
333.00 | XX | |
| Telegraph magazine - money section 1200-word celeb interview @ £400 = | _BarcB | 2014 | |
333.00 | XX | |
| The Daily Telegraph news story from abroad (size, placement unspecified) | _BarcB | 2017 | |
60.00 | GR | XXX |
| The Lead long-read feature | 2024 | |
400.00 | GR | ||
| The National, The Arab Weekly (Abu Dhabi Media) columns, 950 words @ $400 = | 2015 | |
421.00 | |||
| The People page 17 lead, weird foreign Web included | _TMG | 2014 | |
1000.00 | ||
| The People page 17 lead, weird foreign Web included | _TMG | 2014 | |
1000.00 | ||
| The Stage 250 word overnight review @ £20 = | 2017 | |
80.00 | XXXX | ||
| The Sun news piece, length unspecified | _NI | 2015 | |
100.00 | ||
| The Sun feature spread | _NI | 2015 | |
1500.00 | O | |
| The Times news page lead | _NI | 2020 | |
140.00 | X | |
| Times column stick, 2-3 columns - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - £40 to £75 depending on how many columns | _NI | 2022 | |
75.00 | ||
| Times column stick, 2-3 columns - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - £40 to £75 depending on how many columns | _NI | 2022 | |
75.00 | ||
| Times Page lead - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette | _NI | 2022 | |
117.00 | GR | XX |
| Times column stick, 2-3 columns - rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - £40 to £75 depending on how many columns | _NI | 2022 | |
40.00 | ||
| Times NIBs | _NI | 2022 | |
22.50 | GR | XX |
| Times 650 words @ £ 117 = | _NI | 2017 | |
180.00 | XXXX | |
| Times front page story | _NI | 2017 | |
233.00 | GR | XXXX |
| Times 325 words @ £117 = | _NI | 2017 | |
360.00 | GR | X |
| Vice UK research for feature | 2016 | |
200.00 | |||
| A serious Irish newspaper 300 - 400 word property reviews | 2015 | |
150.00 | GR | ||
| Al Jazeera English feature-length article | 2022 | |
350.00 | GR | ||
| Al-Jazeera English* news report, unspecified length (2018) | 2023 | |
1250.00 | |||
| BBC per article, reported on Twitter | 2024 | |
500.00 | |||
| BBC 900-word feature + photos, expenses paid (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
265.00 | |||
| BBC News online Commissioned long-form feature/analysis - usually over 1000 words | _BBC | 2018 | |
326.00 | HA | |
| BBC News online News Piece (copy/colour/instant analysis) 500-800 words | _BBC | 2018 | |
191.00 | HA | |
| BBC News website feature, 3500 words, "about six weeks' work" | _BBC | 2015 | |
350.00 | XXX | |
| BBC World Service website per article | _BBC | 2015 | |
50.00 | XX | |
| Daily Mirror page lead story. Rates paid to agency freelances by nationals, according to Jon Harris, chair of National Association of Press Agencies and managing director of news agency Cavendish Press, quoted in Press Gazette - £120 to £130 | _TMG | 2022 | |
120.00 | GR | XX |
| Deutsche Welle (English) feature - flat rate for 600-800 words (via #FreelancerPayGap) | 2020 | |
250.00 | |||
| Mail online news piece, length unspecified | _Assoc | 2015 | |
80.00 | ||
|
In August 2012 we moved rates for online editions of newspapers and magazines into the 'news' or 'mags' listings. If you are interested, the archived rates are here. | ||||||
|
Tell us what you've been paid for Words, other / online |
Freelance Fees Guide
|
|||||
| Publication / Programme - details & terms | Group | Year | |
Total paid | GR |
XXXX |
| Audio Culture New Zealand music encyclopaedia, one price per piece, whether brief or epic | 2021 | |
125.00 | |||
| Bandcamp feature | 2021 | |
400.00 | GR | ||
| Byline Times 900 word original reporting news story - writer not sure of terms | 2024 | |
175.00 | X | ||
| Byline Times (Byline Supplement) quoted rate for a 3500-word feature - but they pulled out weeks after accepting | 2023 | |
200.00 | XX | ||
| Climate Home News sponsored content writing, per day | 2019 | |
75.00 | XXXX | ||
| Cycling Weekly Online Writing All rights | _AOLTW | 2015 | |
60.00 | XX | |
| d and i Leaders articles 800 to 1200 words - a lot of research and quote finding needed | _INM | 2025 | |
180.00 | XX | |
| Debut features, 600-900 words, on topics expected to help university students or graduates, picture research expected | 2019 | |
25.00 | XXX | ||
| Guardian education piece online by teacher, 700 words | _GMG | 2017 | |
0.00 | GR | XXXX |
| Habtic Standard article, length unspecified | 2021 | |
625.00 | O | ||
| Huck Magazine Feature: personal meeting in London, 4-5hr write-up | 2016 | |
90.00 | GR | ||
| ICS-digital Business-to-Consumer articles and blogs each | 2021 | |
18.00 | XXXX | ||
| Independent IndyBest feature | _INM | 2020 | |
100.00 | XXX | |
| Insider 600-word article with 6 images, all rights | 2022 | |
300.00 | XX | ||
| IRIN 400-word profile and one picture, first world electronic rights | 2019 | |
280.00 | GR | ||
| Local Secrets website 600-800 word feature, plus photos | 2014 | |
15.00 | GR | XXXX | |
| Local Secrets website 600-800 word feature, plus photos | 2014 | |
15.00 | GR | XXXX | |
| Londonist (LDN Creative Ltd) features including research, sometimes original quotes | 2014 | |
50.00 | GR | XXX | |
| New Statesman traditional blog post | _Progres | 2017 | |
50.00 | ||
| Pitchfork Op-Ed with a little reporting, regardless of word count Work For Hire - US for "all rights" & worse | 2015 | |
150.00 | |||
| Plaster interview with high-profile artist , terms - not known | 2025 | |
300.00 | X | ||
| Please Kill Me (US punk culture webmag) features 1500 to 2500 words, fixed fee , demands outright ownership of articles | 2021 | |
500.00 | GR | ||
| Semafor news article | 2023 | |
450.00 | |||
| Shfl review | __misc | 2021 | |
25.00 | GR | |
| SkyscannerS travel features approx. 2000 words | 2017 | |
200.00 | GR | ||
| Telegraph comment, 500 words @ £50 = | _BarcB | 2016 | |
100.00 | XXXX | |
| The Content Standard one article (no word limit) - | 2018 | |
200.00 | |||
| The culture trip research, writing in to WordPress, photo gathering and crediting (time-consuming per piece!) | 2017 | |
70.00 | X | ||
| The Malcontent 500-1000-word feature limited online usage only, no copyright grab | 2015 | |
300.00 | |||
| The Malcontent per 500-800 word piece no rights grab, 3-6 months licence, fee negotiable from | 2015 | |
200.00 | |||
| Africa Science News Service flat fee | 2019 | |
600.00 | |||
| BBC Online feature, 800 words with photos | _BBC | 2024 | |
245.00 | ||
| BBC Online 500 words plus pix | _BBC | 2017 | |
250.00 | ||
| BBC Worklife 1000 to 1400 words with minimum three interviews and unspecified revisions | _BBC | 2022 | |
450.00 | GR | |
| Buzzfeed purchase of rights to pre-existing research for article | 2015 | |
200.00 | |||
| Choose.net Consumer news writing, per piece, no exes all rights | 2015 | |
30.00 | GR | XXX | |
| doctors.net attended a conference and to write 2 news features, which she changed after submission to news "stories" , terms - exclusive only to Drs Net, not able to pitch elsewhere | 2024 | |
180.00 | XXXX | ||
| EasyJet website Regular 400 word city guides all rights | _Ink | 2015 | |
42.00 | GR | XXXX |
| GlobalData online magazines - MINE Australia per piece, 1000 words minimum, preferably with photos and/or interview - licensed to be accessible in perpetuity in digital magazine and on accompanying website | 2023 | |
220.00 | GR | X | |
| Incisive Media news reports averaging 300-350 words, regardless of time, location and research involved terms unclear | _IncisiM | 2016 | |
12.50 | GR | X |
| Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) 1200-1500 word feature | 2023 | |
1500.00 | |||
| Parallax News International news/analysis 4 articles a month for $500 online | 2016 | |
125.00 | |||
| The Vinyl Factory 1500 word interview feature | 2017 | |
150.00 | GR | ||
| Unnamed digital magazine 4-6 pieces per month of 1000 words each, monthly rate, travel costs also paid | 2016 | |
1500.00 | |||
| Website (unnamed) writing and editing per 300 words | 2015 | |
30.00 | |||
| Work for "content agency" / search engine optimisation Writing 600 to 800 words and pic research and provision for "content agency" (work turned down, wouldn't negotiate) | 2016 | |
60.00 | |||
|
Work paid by the piece, for example, that's not for newspapers, magazines, books, PR or online publications. If you are interested, the archived rates are here. | ||||||
|
Tell us what you've been paid for Words, other / other |
Freelance Fees Guide
|
|||||
| Publication / Programme - details & terms | Group | Year | |
Total paid | GR |
XXXX |
| Mergermarket business article - merger and acquisition (M&A) stories | 2024 | |
250.00 | GR | X | |
| POLITICO Europe reported news feature | _Springr | 2025 | |
300.00 | XXX | |
| Art gallery catalogue essay - reported on Twitter | 2023 | |
1000.00 | |||
| BBC programme notes for the 6 Music Proms | _BBC | 2021 | |
200.00 | ||
| BBC concerts BBC-promoted concert programme, short artist notes, extra for post-commission changes | _BBC | 2014 | |
115.00 | ||
| BBC concerts BBC-promoted concert programme, artist profile | _BBC | 2014 | |
150.00 | ||
| BBC concerts BBC-promoted concert programme, short artist notes | _BBC | 2014 | |
90.00 | ||
| Cybersecurity event organiser topic note announcing a business networking event plus writeup afterwards | 2023 | |
375.00 | |||
| Economist Intelligence Unit sponsored report Finding and interviewing senior executive (who had to be approved by report sponsor) then write-up of interview and EIU survey ll rights and no byline | 2016 | |
1250.00 | |||
| Medium-sized trade union re-writing advice pamphlet on a specialist subject - about 4 days, per day | _TU | 2022 | |
260.00 | ||
| Music merchandising company offered for programme notes for arena tour - plus 5 per cent of merchandise sales! | 2021 | |
2000.00 | |||
| Record label album box set booklet (multi-interview), length not specified | 2019 | |
1500.00 | |||
| Rokman Laing marketing consultancy legal content - | 2018 | |
60.00 | XXXX | ||
|
Writing for Public Relations should attract much higher rates than reporting. There's the 'selling your soul' aspect... But, practically, there's the time it takes. PR clients love meetings. Lots of them. Long ones. Meetings are what they do. (Also try Words, other / other.) If you are interested, the archived rates are here. | ||||||
|
Tell us what you've been paid for Words, other / pr |
Freelance Fees Guide
|
|||||
| Publication / Programme - details & terms | Group | Year | |
Total paid | GR |
XXXX |
| Commercial blog posts - average-ish each post - as reported to www.makealivingwriting.com | 2020 | |
150.00 | |||
| Commercial blog posts - top 15 per cent of writers each post - as reported to www.makealivingwriting.com | 2020 | |
300.00 | |||
| Major company 500-word press release, from interview, including flying to Europe, all exes paid | 2023 | |
1200.00 | O | ||
| Major record label (general) PR biog of successful artist for album release - | 2018 | |
1100.00 | |||
| Marketing emails each email - as reported to www.makealivingwriting.com | 2020 | |
200.00 | |||
| Marketing emails - top whack each email - as reported to www.makealivingwriting.com | 2020 | |
500.00 | |||
| Music publishers and managers press biography of performer | 2024 | |
500.00 | |||
| Music publishers and managers writing press release - up to | 2024 | |
300.00 | |||
| Online articles - average-ish for US writers each post - as reported to www.makealivingwriting.com | 2020 | |
300.00 | |||
| Online articles - top 11 per cent of US writers each post - as reported to www.makealivingwriting.com | 2020 | |
1000.00 | |||
| Pop promoter tour programme note | 2019 | |
1500.00 | O | ||
| Private Label International (PR) features 100-150 words | 2016 | |
300.00 | O | ||
| Record company artist biography for press release | 2022 | |
500.00 | |||
| Record company press release involving interview - | 2022 | |
300.00 | |||
| Record company artist biography for press release | 2022 | |
500.00 | |||
| Record company press release involving interview | 2022 | |
300.00 | |||
| Record company writing simple press release | 2022 | |
150.00 | |||
| Record company (small) CD booklet | 2019 | |
200.00 | |||
| Record label album box set booklet (big artist, major label), length not specified | 2019 | |
1800.00 | |||
| Record label (general) PR biog of artist for album release, indie label - | 2018 | |
350.00 | |||
|
Work for which we have no rate-per-thousand-words, whose primary use is in a regional newspaper. See also national papers. If you are interested, the archived rates are here. | ||||||
|
Tell us what you've been paid for Words, other / regional |
Freelance Fees Guide
|
|||||
| Publication / Programme - details & terms | Group | Year | |
Total paid | GR |
XXXX |
| Everett Tribune* news pieces flat rate (2015) | 2023 | |
40.00 | |||
| Hastings Independent (community-owned) 750 words | 2014 | |
0.00 | |||
| Hastings Independent (community-owned) 750 words | 2014 | |
0.00 | |||
| Herald (Glasgow) In Brief news item | _NQ | 2014 | |
10.00 | GR | XXX |
| Herald (Glasgow) In Brief news item | _NQ | 2014 | |
10.00 | GR | XXX |
| La Voce di Mantova (Italy) (Vidiemme) reporting news, photos; 300-word pieces; 2/3 hours per job | 2014 | |
5.00 | XXXX | ||
| La Voce di Mantova (Italy) (Vidiemme) reporting news, photos; 300-word pieces; 2/3 hours per job | 2014 | |
5.00 | XXXX | ||
| Lancashire Telegraph review with photos | _NQ | 2024 | |
30.00 | XXX | |
| London Spy investigation on the pubs industry | 2024 | |
400.00 | O | ||
| Londra Gazete (North London Turkish newspaper) "stories per day, 500 words" it says here | 2017 | |
120.00 | |||
| Michigan Today* reported feature flat rate (2015) | 2023 | |
800.00 | |||
| The Herald (Glasgow) 180-word down front page story | _NQ | 2014 | |
17.00 | XXXX | |
| The Herald (Glasgow) 180-word down front page story | _NQ | 2014 | |
17.00 | XXXX | |
| The Resident arrange interview, do interview, write up, providing pictures and boxes for dps - "no idea" of terms | _ECN | 2018 | |
175.00 | XXX | |
| DPG Netherlands newspaper titles minimum rate per hour agreed July 2022 for all writers - house agreement (Work Code) with NVJ, subject to vote of freelance membership | 2022 | |
30.00 | HA | ||
| Local newspapers Researching, writing & sourcing pics for 30 pages of editorial (A5 mag). Was offered £350 for everything; after negotiation, they offered £400 all in. Turned down. | _NQ | 2018 | |
350.00 | XXXX | |
| 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 known | Group | |||||
| 3 The year in which the rate was reported | Year |
|||||
| 4 Currency: either or or (US) | |
|||||
| 5 Amount paid (total of basic licence and extra licences for web use, database resale...) | Amount |
|||||
| 7 "Going Rate" according to experienced NUJ members - do try to better it: | GR |
|||||
| or Minimum rate set out in NUJ House Agreement: | HA |
|||||
| 8 Underpaid, in the fallible opinion of the Freelance editor: | | 50.00 | X |
|||
| or Just sometimes we're pleasantly surprised: | | 1500.00 | O |
|||
Other rates:
| Type of work: | In the "sector": (click or tap below!) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Words, per 1000 | News | Local | Mag | online | Book | PR | Other |
| Words, other | News | Local | Mag | online | Book | PR | Other |
| Photography | News | Local | Mag | online | Book | PR | Other |
| Broadcasting | News | Local | Other including podcasting | ||||
| Shifts | News | Local | Mag | online | Book | PR | Other |
| Other: | Cartoons | Crosswords | Illustration | Punditry | Retainer | Teaching | Tip-off | Translation | ||||||
| Recently reported rates | all from the past few months |
||||||
Have better rates? Submit them (we won't tell it was you)
Joining the NUJ and getting a Press Card