NUJ Rate for the Job: Words, per 1000 / 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.

Words, per 1000 / other Work paid by the thousand words that's not for newspapers, magazines, books, PR or purely-online publications. If you are interested, the archived rates are here.
Tell us what you've been paid for Words, per 1000 / other		Freelance Fees Guide
Publication / Programme - details & terms	Group	Year		Total paid	GR	XXXX
Daily Telegraph foreign news piece, 900 words	_BarcB	2016		110.00		XXX
Mail on Sunday Health feature , terms - not negotiated but assumed first rights	_Assoc	2019		500.00	GR
Private Eye article about Southern Water polluting Hastings watercourses with sewage		2023		130.00
Public Finance International		2019		360.00
Readers Digest two interviews for a cover feature , terms - not negotiated but assumed first rights	_Vivat	2019		450.00	GR
SciShow Video script 700 words @ $200 = (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		286.00
The Lighthouse copy for US Black women project - advertised on Twitter - up to		2023		1000.00
The Times (Alba supplement in Scotland) travel writing (journalist did two to pick up other paid commissions, one because it meant a very nice free holiday)	_NI	2023		0.00	GR	XXXX
A corporate law firm 7000 words, per thou (and extra research at an unspecified day rate on top)		2015		2000.00		O
A human rights publication		2019		150.00
Al Jazeera around 900 words online @ $350		2022		389.00	GR	O
Art gallery exhibition text on landscape painting		2023		1500.00
Barbican Centre programme 800 words @ £150 =	_HMG	2019		187.50
Barbican programme event programme note		2014		400.00		O
Barbican programme event programme note		2014		333.00		O
CD sleeve		2019		400.00
CD sleeve		2019		100.00		XX
Corporate newsletter interview (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		350.00
Home MCR catalogue (Greater Manchester Arts) 1500 words @ £500 =		2017		333.00		O
NGO proofreading, per 1000 words		2022		20.00
Project on geologically significant areas essay on rock art reported on Twitter - project cancelled and tried to renegotiate - full fee eventually paid		2023		1000.00		O
Record label album box set booklet		2019		333.00
Small Business client feature/service journalism 1500 words @ £90 = (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		60.00		XX
Technical writing US software author reports on Twitter that UK company paid		2024		500.00
Wellcome Collection Stories Online article		2021		400.00		O
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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