NUJ Rate for the Job: Tip-offs / news

Rates archived as at 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.

Tip-offs / news These are archived rates. The current rates are here.
Tell us what you've been paid for Tip-offs / news		Freelance Fees Guide
Publication / Programme - details & terms	Group	Year		Total paid	GR	XXXX
Barnsley Chronicle	__misc	2005		0.00	GR	X^9!
Bizarre "weird news" tip	_Dennis	2008		20.00		X
Building Design tip-off to editor, used sept 2003	_UM	2005		40.00
Daily Express deliver confidential report	_NS	2001		200.00		XX
Daily Mail	_Assoc	2012		100.00
Daily Mail news story tip	_Assoc	2011		150.00
Daily Mail tip off for page lead	_Assoc	2006		300.00
Daily Mail feature idea	_Assoc	2004		300.00
Daily Mirror tip-off and background information for 1/4 page article FBS plus web	_TMG	2011		400.00		O
Daily Record whether used or not	_TMG	2013		75.00
Daily Star	_UM	1996		100.00
Daily Telegraph news story, made around 4 pars	_BarcB	2013		30.00
Daily Telegraph tip, contacts, quotes for news page lead	_BarcB	2011		50.00		XX
Daily Telegraph Peterboro	_Holl	2000		45.00
Daily Telegraph for 15 minutes' work	_Holl	1996		75.00
Daily Telegraph front-page story	_Holl	1994		100.00
Evening Standard diary tip (according to Guy Adams in the Independent up to	_Assoc	2007		120.00
Evening Standard diary tip (according to Guy Adams in the Independent	_Assoc	2007		50.00
Evening Standard political tip - was £40 in 1980, now	_Assoc	2005		30.00		XXXX
Evening Standard	_Assoc	2001		75.00
Guardian	_GMG	2009		50.00
Guardian diary tip	_GMG	2001		35.00
HotPress		2005		90.00	GR	XXXX
Independent on Sunday	_INM	1995		100.00
Mail on Sunday tip-off and follow-up	_Assoc	2003		500.00
Mail on Sunday page lead	_Assoc	1994		500.00
Observer	_GMG	1994		200.00
Print News	_HM	2012		30.00
Private Eye Tip-off about... 200 words odd for Rotten Boroughs page		2012		50.00	GR
Sun phone calls (three) on a story which reporter then denied receiving until told it showed on freelance's mobile bill	_NI	2007		150.00
Sun	_NI	1998		400.00
Sun page lead	_NI	1994		300.00
Sunday Mirror exclusive	_TMG	2000		450.00
Sunday Mirror 2-page inside	_TMG	1994		1000.00
Sunday Mirror 2-page inside	_TMG	1994		2000.00
Sunday Telegraph	_Holl	1999		100.00
Sunday Times tip fee	_NI	2001		50.00
The Sunday Sun (Newcastle and environs) exclusive, loads of background and quotes all rights	_TMG	2013		0.00		XXXX
BBC TV documentary unit - 8 phone numbers	_BBC	2001		35.00
BBC TV research - half hour on the phone	_BBC	1999		50.00		O
Commercial Radio Companies Association		2006		10.31	HA
IRN stringer item	_IRN	1996		20.00		X
IRN stringer item	_IRN	1996		75.00
ITN	_ITN	1997		15.00		X
Mirror ring in with tip or email in a paragraph	_TMG	2007		250.00
Woman's Hour (BBC Radio)	_BBC	2011		25.00
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:

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