Let's work together to stamp out poor pay
New best practice guidelines for editors working with freelance journalists
Ever since we launched Freelancing for Journalists four years ago (starting with a book), our goal has been to provide resources to help you make a success of self-employment.
A really large part of that is advice around how to make a living from freelance work. Questions around finances remain by far the top issue you all get in touch with us about. From fair rates, hitting hefty administrative burdens when trying to get paid, or having to wait months for an article to be published before an invoice is processed, we have all experienced money woes despite holding up our end of the bargain.
We have heard some outrageous stories of poor payment practices and exploitation as well as lengthy periods where invoices seem to have disappeared into a black hole. And while we have shouted from the rooftops about this for some time, we decided it was time for more decisive action.
So we have teamed up with Donna Ferguson from Women in Journalism and the journalist, author and advocate Anna Codrea-Rado to develop best practice guidelines for print editors on how to treat the freelancers who are the backbone of the journalism industry.
The guidelines, which are being launched this week, call for kill fees to be abolished and state that freelancers should not be forced to wait until after their work is published in order to get paid.
They also recommend that publishers make a commitment to regularly review freelance rates, and we hope that they will lead to better working relationships between editors and freelancers.
They include the need for fit for purpose payment processes as well as reiterating that invoices should be paid within 30 days as per UK law.
We also have a section on rights and transparent pitching processes. As well as providing guidance for editors, our aim is to provide freelance journalists with a set of clear expectations about how they should be treated.
At Freelancing for Journalists our hope is that these guidelines will empower our community to challenge poor practice and negotiate fair rates and conditions.
We believe (very strongly) that freelancers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, rather than bend to the whim of profit-eating media conglomerates. We want these guidelines to be a turning point for a fair deal for freelance journalists that media outlets rely so heavily on.
Donna, who led the drive to create the guidelines, points out that many journalists, particularly women, are drawn to the flexibility and variety of freelancing only to find themselves struggling to make ends meet when, for reasons beyond their control, they are paid 50% of what they were promised for the work (the dreaded kill fee).
“Others have to wait months to get any fee at all, because their articles have not yet been published.
“It’s not right and we wanted to call it out and offer professional guidelines for editors who want to follow best practice,” she adds. “We also hope it will raise awareness of these issues for freelancers.”
Journalist, author and advocate Anna Codrea-Rado, who also collaborated on the guidelines says: “Journalism’s core function is to hold power to account, yet a flawed system undervalues the freelancers who perform this essential work.
“If we want a diverse, fair, and robust press, we must start by addressing how we treat those who work in the sector. These guidelines are a positive and necessary step forward for the journalism industry.”
In response to the guidelines, the National Union of Journalists has said that if companies followed the principles we have set out, many of the problems freelance members bring to us at the NUJ “simply wouldn’t arise”.
NUJ organiser Andy Smith adds: “Prompt payment in full once work has been delivered, as described in a written contract agreed when the work is commissioned, should be standard.”
So please take a minute to click on the link below, read the guidelines, share them with your colleagues and others in the industry, and let’s reset the power imbalance between media organisations and the freelancers who provide so much of the copy they rely on.
New podcast episode
On the podcast this week we have a fascinating chat with Sahar Zand about her working uncovering abuse of power within Interpol. Her Sky News podcast series Dirty Work was winner of Best Investigation at the 2024 Freelance Journalism Awards. Listen by clicking the link below or wherever you get your podcasts.
Work experience scheme open
The next round of our Journalism Work Experience and Mentorship Scheme is now open. To access our database of freelance journalists and media organisations you need to sign up to our webinar (recordings available if you can’t make the event on Wed 6th November at 1pm). Here we explain all about how it works and how to get the most out of it. Tickets are £10 which covers the administration of the scheme. We also have bursary places so do get in touch if you need more information. There is lots of detail on the webinar sign up page or you can email freelancingforjournalists@gmail.com. Places do tend to go quite quickly so if you’re interested don’t leave it too long!
Triumph of the week
Getting a quick simple and well-paid commission out of the blue
That feeling when
It’s already lunchtime and you still have a long list of jobs
We love to hear your feedback on everything we do, so feel free to drop us an email anytime at freelancingforjournalists@gmail.com
Bye for now!