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

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 / pr 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, per 1000 / other.) If you are interested, the archived rates are here.
Tell us what you've been paid for Words, per 1000 / pr		Freelance Fees Guide
Publication / Programme - details & terms	Group	Year		Total paid	GR	XXXX
Field Notes from the Narrative Initiative Twitter call for pitches on cultural producers, activists, and other changemakers		2024		1000.00
Signature (Signature Media)		2014		300.00
Signature (Signature Media)		2014		300.00
Sydney Morning Herald sponsored editorial, 1200 words @ 900 Australian dollars = (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		423.00
Trust straightforward feature		2017		700.00	GR	O
A record company Programme feature for a pop group -		2018		1500.00		O
A trade union Article drafted for senior staff	_TU	2018		350.00
AlbanDigital Advertising online for blog post ghostwriters, demand 3 years' experience - work not pursued when it turns out they pay		2016		100.00
Energy corporate (Russian) feature all rights		2016		1750.00		O
Established indie record label (general) publicity biog for album release		2018		400.00
Finnish record label PR biog for Finnish record label - 800 words @ £300, one shot email all rights nevertheless		2017		375.00
grammy.com Interview up to (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		312.00
Liner notes for album on Norwegian label Record and CD		2017		250.00
Major music label 800-word musician biography @ £400		2019		500.00
Membership mag interview and write-up - took total of c2 days work 1400 words @ £350 = (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		250.00
Record company Sleeve/liner note for album box set, 5000 words @ £1650 =		2022		330.00
Record company Set of 7 sleeve notes, 350 words each, so 2450 words @ £1050 =		2022		430.00
Record company - Sony Legacy Sleeve notes - 2004 - 1200 words @ $1000 =		2022		833.00
Record label band biography, smaller label - 1500 words @ £350 =		2023		233.00
Record label band biography, major label in a hurry - 1500 words @ £1250 =		2023		833.00
Record label album box set booklet (major label)		2019		1000.00		O
Record label album box set booklet		2019		350.00
Record label album box set booklet for middle-rank artist, enormous booklet, total £3000		2019		150.00		X
Record label album box set booklet (middle-rank artist, shortish)		2019		250.00
Record label album box set booklet ("Historical" "archive) - writer retained copyright, especially in new interviews for spin-off article use abd extra fees negotiated for extra items after original agreement		2019		500.00
Record label album box set booklet (small label, obscure artist)		2016		100.00		XX
Red bull music how-to 2000 words @ £200 = (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		100.00
Website and marketing copywriting case studies		2016		600.00
Zavvi feature 1000 words @ £25 = (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		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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