NUJ Rate for the Job: Shifts / regional

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.

Shifts / regional Writing and editing work for regional newspapers, paid by the day or the hour. Mostly sub-editing: checking and proofreading copy and making it fit the house style and design. (Actual publication/programme names appear before publishers and generic rates) See also national papers. If you are interested, the archived rates are here.
Tell us what you've been paid for Shifts / regional		Freelance Fees Guide
Publication / Programme - details & terms	Group	Year		Total paid	GR	XXXX
Belfast Telegraph reporting, writing, sourcing images, placing text and writing headlines on some occasions		2022		84.00		XX
Belfast Telegraph reporting day - as reported to journoresources.org.uk - from the Rate for the Job!	_INM	2020		84.00		XX
Belfast Telegraph reporting shift		2019		84.00		XX
Derby Telegraph unspecified work per hour	_TMG	2020		10.00		XXX
Derby Telegraph Subbing day, 7.5hrs	_LocalW	2016		100.00	GR
Enfield Gazette reporting day	_Tindle	2016		110.00
Harrogate Advertiser writing business and property news 20 hrs a week (paid per hour) for 12 years		2022		11.84		XXXX
South London Press reporting day no expenses	_Tindle	2015		100.00	GR	X
Yorkshire Post business news and features two days a week for nearly 8 years per day		2022		105.00		XXXX
Cumbria weekly and daily newspapers subbing - 7-hour day	_NQ	2023		125.00		X
Johnston Press papers in NE England reporting or subbing day (though shifts are few and far between)	_Johnsto	2018		100.00		XX
NE England local freesheets (run by ex-proper-paper staff) reporting or subbing day , terms - at least		2018		100.00
NE England local paper reporting day (covering for a Local Democracy Reporter - how much does the BBC pay the paper?		2018		100.00		X
Regional press reporting day (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		120.00
unnamed local community magazine day shift of unspecified activity		2014		100.00
unnamed local community magazine day shift of unspecified activity		2014		100.00
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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