Exclusive: Payment on pitch launched

UK newspapers agree to fairer payment system

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

Happy Easter! We are sending this extra newsletter to share some exciting news with you. For far too long freelance journalists have had to put up with the unfair practice of payment on publication. You file copy, wait weeks or even months for it to be published, and then finally get paid more than 30 days after publication.

But no more! The Union of National Journalists (UNJ) has announced an agreement with all UK national newspaper groups. They have been working behind the scenes with FFJ and newspaper editors to end payment on publication and replace it with payment on pitch.

From today, April 1st 2024, all national newspapers in the UK will pay freelance journalists within 30 days of commissioning an article. Once you receive an email from an editor saying yes to a pitch, you can send in your invoice.

“This is a giant step forward for freelance journalists. We are delighted that newspapers in the UK have finally decided to treat their freelancers fairly, with respect, and to pay them in a timely manner. It’s quite a shock that we have finally managed to come to this agreement given the exploitative practices that have continued for years,” said April Poole, director of the UNJ.

Here at FFJ we are delighted at the news and will be celebrating with an extra Easter egg!

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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!