NUJ Freelance Fees Guide (2024)

NUJ Freelance Fees Guide

The rates for words are for their first appearance in a UK magazine, or US as the case may be. If the publisher wants further uses, negotiate.

We updated these rates on 9 August 2021. Sadly, the market survey on which this Guide must be based shows that many have not kept pace with inflation.

To emphasise what's in the advice section: do remember to register with the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society to get your share of money collected for copying of magazines. See the link below.

The suggested rates

Read me first! Print media / Magazines: advice

See also: notes on negotiating rates for this work

See also: reported rates, to compare: Print media / Magazines

Know a better rate? Tell us!

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Please note that the suggested rates below are minima; that rates for copyright works are for limited licences; and that VAT is not included.

Who and what is this guide for? Accessibility Privacy and cookies

RATES: Magazines category: A: large-circulation and glossy mags

Writing, per 1000 - prestige US magazines from		3000.00
Writing, per 1000 words, US authors for prestige UK magazines from		1400.00
Writing, per 1000 words, prestige UK magazines from		1200.00
Writing, per 1000 words		1000.00
Acting as editor on publication: per day		350.00
Section or production editor: per day		300.00
Reporting or researching: per day		240.00
Sub-editing and production: per day		200.00

RATES: Magazines category: B: smaller consumer mags

Writing, per 1000 - run-of-the-mill US magazines ($1/word). Exchange rate updated July 2018		1000.00
Writing, per 1000 words		550.00
Acting as editor on publication: per day		300.00
Section or production editor: per day		240.00
Reporting or researching: per day		180.00
Sub-editing and production: per day		180.00

RATES: Magazines category: C: larger trade and trade union mags

Writing, per 1000 words		350.00
Acting as editor on publication: per day		280.00
Section or production editor: per day		220.00
Reporting or researching: per day		165.00
Sub-editing and production: per day		165.00

RATES: Magazines category: D: smaller mags

Writing, per 1000 words		250.00
Acting as editor on publication: per day		220.00
Section or production editor: per day		170.00
Sub-editing and production: per day		150.00
Reporting or researching: per day		150.00

Notes:

Category D magazines cover a multitude of sins, down to those that are either very small or very stingy (not mentioning any New Statesmen in particular). The above are decent rates for words contributed that are achievable from many magazines. But some get away with paying £150 per thousand - especially those that hold a virtual monopoly on a specialist field or where the field is infested with enthusiastic amateurs.

Notes:

Freelances paid a day rate risk being taxed at source and paying National Insurance as an employed person, though this can be challenged - see Shift payments - tax and time off.
Writing on a day rate may have implications for copyright. See Rights and why they are important - and NUJ members can check with the Freelance Office.
Note that many small-circulation specialist mags pay rates in line with category C, or category B if their readership is particularly influential. A newsletter distributed to a handful of Chief Executive Officers who know that its subject is important, but not what it is, may pay silly money to a writer who does know what it is.
Contract publishers may pay considerably more for work used in a given category of magazine than direct publishers would - for example £900 per 1000 words for work that appears in a Category B magazine. See Advice on Magazine work.
Some magazines get away with paying less for sub-editing shifts. But they shouldn't.

Print media / magazines: advice

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