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

Updated: 20 December 2017

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" 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.
Tell us what you've been paid for Words, per 1000 / other		Freelance Fees Guide
Publication / Programme - details & terms	Group	Year		Basic fee	Extras	GR	XXXX
Business Monitor International business intelligence reports all rights		2007		120	0		XX
Daily Telegraph foreign news piece, 900 words	_BarcB	2016		110			XXX
Economic and Social Research Council	_HMG	2009		375
Elv news, regular copy all rights		2007		130
Go (travel supplement) (AA publishing) 300 words @ £120		2010		400
Go (travel supplement) (AA publishing) travel feature		2010		300
Open Democracy 3500 word starred feature on-line , exes only (travel) , creative commons lincence		2012		350	0	GR	XXX
Russian Realm		2011		1416
Sony Legacy sleeve note		2011		1000			O
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			X
The National (Abu Dhabi) 2,350-word feature for £900		2008		383
The National (Abu Dhabi) 600 words, gig preview		2008		500			O
~a professional Institute (first UK rights only)		1994		250	-
A corporate law firm 7000 words, per thou (and extra research at an unspecified day rate on top)		2015		2000			O
Acts Publishing International		1997		150	-
Aspen Specialist Media all rights		1997		100	-		X
Barbican programme event programme note		2014		400			O
Barbican programme event programme note		2014		333			O
BBC Learning Support writing per day	_BBC	1999		120	-
BBC Learning support	_BBC	1998		160	-
Big UK charity non-member writing copy, raised from £180 per 1000 using RftJ page all rights		2007		250
BLA Group (?)		1997		583.33	-
British Alzheimer's Society summary of drug research		2011		250
British Council	_HMG	2008		250
BT Communications Capita		1998		80	-		XX
Central Office of Information	_HMG	1996		100	-		X
Central Office of Information	_HMG	1996		150	-
Central Office of Information (overseas rights only)	_HMG	1994		100	-
Central Office of Information	_HMG	1994		111	-
Central Office of Information	_HMG	1993		100	-
Computer/Technical review		1996		210	-
Contract publisher policy wonk feature		2011		500
Contract publisher commercial writing		2011		450
Corner House Publications writing		2002		100
Corporate internal magazine copywriting for global group		2013		800		GR
Daily Briefing - Oxford Analytica		2012		187.50			X
Documentary film licence to re-use freelance's audio		2013		500
Eaglemoss (off-the-shelf company!)		1998		130	-
EMF Publications		1999		175	-
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council all rights (but £2.10 each time you paste the client's name in)	_HMG	2003		350
English Heritage	_HMG	1994		150	-
EPC		1998		75	-		XX
Faversham House Group		1997		120	-
Gemini News Agency		1997		75	-
Global Business Publishing		1999		500	-
Gruppo Editoro SPA 45000 lira for 2000 characters equals, hmmm:		1994		56.81	-		X
Health Education Authority	_HMG	1994		90	-		X
Health Education Authority Headlines news	_HMG	1995		165	-
Health Education Authority Headlines features	_HMG	1995		225	-
Hemmings Group offer 120 pay		1994		130	-
Hill Publishing		1998		83.33	-		XXX
IC Publications		1995		80	-		X
ICL newsletter		1995		200	-
In-flight mags		1995		70	-		X
IRIN Plus News (United Nations)		2007		100			XX
Jane's Information Group	_Janes	1994		120	-
Jane's Information Group	_Janes	1994		100	-
Lunda art collection		2004		150
M-Press		1999		100	-		X
Market Link Publishing		1998		185	-
Nexus Publications		1997		150	-
NM News		1999		225	-
Orpheus Publications (what?)		1994		82	-
Oxford Analytica daily briefing		2012		225
Oxford Analytica		2011		187.50
Packaging trade organisation		1996		225	-
Panos Institute (it's a charity, see...)		2000		100	-
Policy Publications 25,000 word report £2500 plus royalties		2000		100	-		O
Raconteur Media copywriting with research into scientific papers, plus original quotes (and sometimes case studies)		2014		350		GR	O
The Report Company features		2011		250
Rock band tour programme programme note		2013		750			O
SA publications		2000		220	-
SA Publications		1999		220	-
Sainsburys' in-store mag		1993		300	-
Saudi Research+Marketing		1993		100	-
Small technology publisher Writing profile of a company, 1000 words		2007		400		GR
Sony Legacy album sleeve	_Sony	2010		1000			O
Summerhouse Publishing (contract publishing)		1999		250	-
Thompson publishing		1995		125	-
University of Calgary one use $45		2004		23
University of the Third Age, Newcastle		2009		300			O
Virgin media was 18p/ since 1999, campaigned to increase for all freelances	_Virgin	2007		250		GR	O
WV Publications		1999		120	-
The above are the rates for Words, per 1000 / other notified by members up to 20 December 2017.
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
5 Amount paid for basic licence - e.g. first use in print:				Basic fee
6 Paid for extra licences - web use, database resale... (no data pre Jun 2000)				...	Extras
7 "Going Rate" according to experienced NUJ members - do try to better it:				...	...	GR
or Minimum rate set out in NUJ House Agreement (more will be made soon):				...	...	HA
8 Underpaid, in the fallible opinion of the Freelance editor:				50	0		X
or Just sometimes we're pleasantly surprised:				1500	300		O

Other rates:

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