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

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 / regional Work paid by the thousand words, whose primary use is in a regional newspaper. See also national papers.
Tell us what you've been paid for Words, per 1000 / regional		Freelance Fees Guide
Publication / Programme - details & terms	Group	Year		Basic fee	Extras	GR	XXXX
Barnet Press reporting day (7 hours)	_Tindle	2016		110
Belfast Telegraph arts interview (page lead)	_INM	2004		57	0		XX
Belfast Telegraph	_INM	2000		66.67	-		X
Belfast Telegraph	_INM	1999		66.67	-		XX
Brighton Argus	_NQ	1998		70	-
Brighton Argus	_NQ	1997		85	-
Brighton Argus	_NQ	1997		70	-
Bristol Evening Post leader article	_Assoc	2005		35			XXX
Chichester Observer	_Johnsto	2005		30			XXX
Croydon Advertiser	_SouthN	1998		125	-
Eastern Daily Press offered for one-off feature no licence specified	_ECN	2006		75			XX
Evening Herald (Ireland) feature expenses negotiable; will pay extra €50 if writer commissions a snapper	_INM	2006		250		GR
Evening Press York 650-word column	_NQ	2002		61.59
Ham+High (flat rate for 1000-1500 words)	_ECN	1995		70	-
Hertfordshire Life copyright assigne to customer, no expenses	_ECN	2015		100			X
Ilford Recorder £25 for 500 words plus photo and diagram	_ECN	2009		50
Isle of Wight County Press feature expenses paid 51 pence per mile	__misc	2007		80
Leamington Courier feature plus 10 digital pics	_Johnsto	2006		100			XXX
Leicester Mercury	_Assoc	1995		90	-
Living South	_ECN	2009		150		GR	X
Londonlite gig preview	_Assoc	2006		300
Londonlite gig review	_Assoc	2006		214			X
Londonlite 250 word live music review for £75 =	_Assoc	2006		300			X
Stratford Herald offered for feature, not accepted		2004		50			X
Stratford Herald magazine initiating idea, researching, writing , prod/exes 32p per mile petrol		2010		115.50			X
Sunday Herald exclusive feature about the 2022 World Cup , terms FBS, no expenses	_NQ	2012		90			XXXX
Sunday Post column	_DCT	1995		167	-
The Hill	_ECN	2009		150		GR	X
Tuam Herald (Co. Galway)	__misc	2008		70			XX
Western Daily Press feature	_Assoc	2005		120		GR
Western Daily Press	_Assoc	2007		100			XX
Western Daily Press feature - exes "depend on how much they want the piece"	_Assoc	2005		150
Western Daily Press	_Assoc	2004		200
Western Daily Press	_Assoc	2004		125
Western Mail 2000 word piece @ £100	_TMG	2008		50			XXX
Western Mail reviews	_TMG	2007		100			XX
Western Mail arts reviews 600 words for £50	_TMG	2007		83			XX
Westminster News (Sketch News)		2007		150
Yorkshire Post 1200 word feature @ £150	_Johnsto	2014		125
Yorkshire Post 1200 word feature @ £150	_Johnsto	2014		125
Yorkshire Post arts/concert reviews 250 words @ 21.99 + travel 30p mile	_Johnsto	2007		87.96		GR	XXX
Yorkshire Post words after the 55th	_INM	2005		32.50			XXXX
Yorkshire Post first 55 words £2.31	_INM	2005		42			XXXX
Archant regional paper offered for double-page spread with choice among 8 pix - refused!	_ECN	2008		60			XXXX
Irish regional papers column		2009		120
Northcliffe Media Christmas TV Guide 1800 words @ £500	_Assoc	2011		277.78
Trinity Mirror Group writing no contract	_TMG	2004		100		GR	XX
The above are the rates for Words, per 1000 / regional 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

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