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

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.

Words, per 1000 / other Work paid by the thousand words that was not for newspapers, magazines, books, PR or purely-online publications. These are archived rates. The current 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
Business Monitor International business intelligence reports all rights		2007		120.00		XX
Economic and Social Research Council	_HMG	2009		375.00
Elv news, regular copy all rights		2007		130.00
Go (travel supplement) (AA publishing) 300 words @ £120		2010		400.00
Go (travel supplement) (AA publishing) travel feature		2010		300.00
Open Democracy 3500 word starred feature on-line , exes only (travel) , creative commons lincence		2012		350.00	GR	XXX
Russian Realm		2011		1416.00
South China Morning Post travel article with unlimited use of pics HK$2.50 per word offered for on-spec pices, no licence specified - member refused job		2009		220.00		X
The National (Abu Dhabi) 2,350-word feature for £900		2008		383.00
The National (Abu Dhabi) 600 words, gig preview		2008		500.00		O
Acts Publishing International		1997		150.00
Aspen Specialist Media all rights		1997		100.00		X
BBC Learning Support writing per day	_BBC	1999		120.00
BBC Learning support	_BBC	1998		160.00
Big UK charity non-member writing copy, raised from £180 per 1000 using RftJ page all rights		2007		250.00
BLA Group (?)		1997		583.33
British Alzheimer's Society summary of drug research		2011		250.00
British Council	_HMG	2008		250.00
BT Communications Capita		1998		80.00		XX
Central Office of Information	_HMG	1996		100.00		X
Central Office of Information	_HMG	1996		150.00
Central Office of Information (overseas rights only)	_HMG	1994		100.00
Central Office of Information	_HMG	1994		111.00
Central Office of Information	_HMG	1993		100.00
Computer/Technical review		1996		210.00
Contract publisher policy wonk feature		2011		500.00
Contract publisher commercial writing		2011		450.00
Corner House Publications writing		2002		100.00
Corporate internal magazine copywriting for global group		2013		800.00	GR
Daily Briefing - Oxford Analytica		2012		187.50		X
Documentary film licence to re-use freelance's audio		2013		500.00
Eaglemoss (off-the-shelf company!)		1998		130.00
EMF Publications		1999		175.00
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council all rights (but £2.10 each time you paste the client's name in)	_HMG	2003		350.00
English Heritage	_HMG	1994		150.00
EPC		1998		75.00		XX
Faversham House Group		1997		120.00
Gemini News Agency		1997		75.00
Global Business Publishing		1999		500.00
Gruppo Editoro SPA 45000 lira for 2000 characters equals, hmmm:		1994		56.81		X
Health Education Authority	_HMG	1994		90.00		X
Health Education Authority Headlines news	_HMG	1995		165.00
Health Education Authority Headlines features	_HMG	1995		225.00
Hemmings Group offer 120 pay		1994		130.00
Hill Publishing		1998		83.33		XXX
IC Publications		1995		80.00		X
ICL newsletter		1995		200.00
In-flight mags		1995		70.00		X
IRIN Plus News (United Nations)		2007		100.00		XX
Jane's Information Group	_Janes	1994		120.00
Jane's Information Group	_Janes	1994		100.00
Lunda art collection		2004		150.00
M-Press		1999		100.00		X
Market Link Publishing		1998		185.00
Nexus Publications		1997		150.00
NM News		1999		225.00
Orpheus Publications (what?)		1994		82.00
Oxford Analytica daily briefing		2012		225.00
Oxford Analytica		2011		187.50
Packaging trade organisation		1996		225.00
Panos Institute (it's a charity, see...)		2000		100.00
Policy Publications 25,000 word report £2500 plus royalties		2000		100.00		O
Rock band tour programme programme note		2013		750.00		O
SA publications		2000		220.00
SA Publications		1999		220.00
Sainsburys' in-store mag		1993		300.00
Saudi Research+Marketing		1993		100.00
Small technology publisher Writing profile of a company, 1000 words		2007		400.00	GR
Summerhouse Publishing (contract publishing)		1999		250.00
The Report Company features		2011		250.00
Thompson publishing		1995		125.00
University of Calgary one use $45		2004		23.00
University of the Third Age, Newcastle		2009		300.00		O
Virgin media was 18p/ since 1999, campaigned to increase for all freelances	_Virgin	2007		250.00	GR	O
WV Publications		1999		120.00
~a professional Institute (first UK rights only)		1994		250.00
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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