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

Updated: 2025-11-18

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
Private Eye article about Southern Water polluting Hastings watercourses with sewage		2023		130.00
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
Al Jazeera around 900 words online @ $350		2022		389.00	GR	O
Art gallery exhibition text on landscape painting		2023		1500.00
Corporate newsletter interview (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		350.00
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
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 recent rates:

Have better rates? Submit them (we won't tell it was you)

Freelance Fees Guide home page

Joining the NUJ and getting a Press Card