NUJ Rate for the Job: Retainers

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.

Retainers / all These are archived rates. The current rates are here.
Tell us what you've been paid for Retainers / all		Freelance Fees Guide
Publication / Programme - details & terms	Group	Year		Total paid	GR	XXXX
Irish Post week	_Smurf	1993		180.00
Surma, Janoma, Notun Din (Bengali/Bangla language) per year		1997		3000.00
Adult entertainment site writing around 60 model biogs (150 words each) - each takes about five minutes - per month		2007		350.00		O
ANSA newswire 70-80 shorts a month		2006		600.00		XXXX
Monthly retained PR campaign one meeting per month with small health firm, one press release or feature, rolling monthly schedule, media liaison		2007		500.00
retainer to work as editor for resource company editing 20 books per year		2006		9000.00
small financial services publisher writing articles, editing, publishing advice		2007		500.00	GR	O
Small technology company writing copy (articles, white papers), bit of sub-editing when needed fee is per month, approx 4-5 days work per month		2007		2500.00	GR
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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Freelance Fees Guide home page

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