[NUJ.LFB] NUJ Rate for the Job:
Words, other / mags

Updated: 10 November 2009

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, other / mags

Work for which we have no rate-per-thousand-words, whose primary use is in a magazine. Completists may want to see the older rates for some publications listed here.
* Tell us what you've been paid for Words, other / mags * Freelance Fees Guide
Publication/Programme - details & terms        Group Year ¤ Basic fee Extras
A Place in the Sun illustrated feature over 6 sides, 2500 words and 10 photos (1 used as double page spread) FBS specified by author _Brookl 2004 GBP 600
AA Travel 40 150-word reviews 2003 GBP 1100
Antique Doll Collector feature - US$350 = 2007 GBP 175 GR
Artists & Illustrators 400-word interview _Quarto 2006 GBP 100
Artists and Illustrators feature (2002) FBS 2005 GBP 120 X
Australia & New Zealand magazine (Merricks) 1200-word pictures package FBS and Web use _Merrick 2006 GBP 180 XXX
AXM magazine (formerly Axiom) 1600 word feature 2003 GBP 150
BBC Countryfile Mag 500-word walking route, with six pics. No exes. all rights - appears online (without consultation) 2008 GBP 120 X
BBC Good Homes photography & words FBS _BBC 2006 GBP 1400 GR
Best of British 700 words + 4 photos 2008 GBP 50 XXX
Big Issue South West 250 word news story (exclusive) use online refused to pay exes agreed in advance _BI 2002 GBP 40 0
Boston Globe Magazine feature article First rights US$1200= _NYT 2006 GBP 631 X
Bridge Plus monthly column 1999 GBP 80 -
Cat World 1000 word feature + 6 photos, prod/exes not paid for these do not pick up the phone and refused to tell me how much i was to be paid until after publication _Ashdown 2008 GBP 65 XXXX
Cat World feature all rights _Hach 2003 GBP 15 0 XXX
Classic Bike Guide feature of 1500-2000 words + photographs licence not known _TMG 2002 GBP 200 X
Classic Rock 120-word album reviews all rights _Future 2006 GBP 15 XXX
Community Care 250-word book review _RBI 2009 GBP 30
Community Care attend and write up a conference _RBI 2004 GBP 130 XXXX
Community Practitioner attend and write up a conference 2004 GBP 250
Computer Arts offered for 11,000 words for cover-mounted book - member turned the commission down when told the fee World rights forever, non-exclusive after 6 months _Future 2005 GBP 600 XXX
Computer Music feature _Future 2006 GBP 230
Condé Nast Traveller 250 words _CondN 2008 GBP 125
Construction News 900 words + 200-word box , FBS + web _Economi 2009 GBP 247
Cornwall Today 1400 word feature FBSR 2002 GBP 100 X
Cosmopolitan opinion/comment piece of 1000 words plus photoshoot (whole evening in studio) , all rights _NatMag 2008 GBP 400 XX
Cosmopolitan column _NatMag 2003 GBP 270 X
Country Homes and Interiors feature _IPC 2005 GBP 500 O
Country Smallholding 2000 word article plus photos _ECN 2008 GBP 150 X
Country Walking 500-word walking route + 150-word pub review + small pic; £10 petrol paid _EMAP 2006 GBP 100 XX
Criminal Lawyer features 1000 to 4000 words 2005 GBP 90 XXXX
Cyprus Weekly 200 words 2009 EUR 50
Daily Record 'The Max' feature - 1200 wrds _TMG 2000 GBP 300
Dazed and Confused 350 word interview for full page feature 2006 GBP 50
Didsbury magazine per page 2005 GBP 40 XX
Dogs Monthly feature, length unspecified 2006 GBP 70
Eastern Eye education feature 2003 GBP 80
Elle Decoration 350 word feature, plus 200 wd box, plus v detailed captions , terms all rights _Hach 2008 GBP 350
Elle Decoration interview plus brief bio - 300 words _Hach 2008 GBP 200
Essentials feature for health section _IPC 2004 GBP 350 GR
Evening Standard Jobs feature _Assoc 2006 GBP 400
Family Circle 1800 word feature all rights including waivering of moral rights _IPC 2005 GBP 550 0
FHM 200 words _EMAP 2003 GBP 100
FHM 300 words _EMAP 2003 GBP 120
Fortean Times 800-word opinion piece _Dennis 2008 GBP 90 X
Fortean Times 1000 words + 2 x 500-word side bars + lots of picture research FBS and web _Dennis 2008 GBP 500
Frank quarter page _EMAP 1998 GBP 100 -
Front magazine (Flip Media) feature with a fair degree of involvement/research 2008 GBP 500 GR
Galleries Exhibition reviews 2005 GBP 50
Golf Weekly they only pay for what they use, not what they commission: per word _EMAP 2004 GBP 0.15 XX
Good Housekeeping feature, length unspecified _NatMag 2005 GBP 650 GR
Greece 1200-word and pictures package FBS and web use _Merrick 2006 GBP 120 GR XXXX
Green Futures one 650-word page 1998 GBP 150 -
Holiday Cottages/Villas 1000 words + photos FBS 2009 GBP 150 XX
Holiday Cottages FBSR _Merrick 2004 GBP 250 GR X
Hotshoe (World Illustrated) any article, 800-1500 words 2006 GBP 75 XX
Housing half-day reporting seminar _Chadw 2001 GBP 90
iCreate interview-led feature + picture research, 2 pages rights-grab _Highbur 2005 GBP 160 0 GR X
iCreate (Paragon) Six page cover feature with screenshots all rights _Highbur 2003 GBP 480 X
Index (SG Publications) per page 2002 GBP 60 XX
Information Age (Infoconomy) 1500 word feature all rights 2003 GBP 450 GR O
Inside Housing day covering conference plus exes _TMG 2000 GBP 175
Inside Housing two days to research feature _TMG 1998 GBP 230 -
Insight piece 1999 GBP 550 -
Irish Printer review 2500 words. (terms unclear) 2005 EUR 250
Italia! (Anthem) 3500-word and pictures package FBS 2006 GBP 300 GR XXXX
Journalist feature (how long?) _TU 2006 GBP 100 HA ?
Kerrang! downpage 150-word album review _EMAP 2008 GBP 20 GR X
Kijk (Netherlands) one phone number: free subscription plus 1998 GBP 25 - O
League paper / Non-League paper 10p per word if anything 2007 GBP 100 XXX
Leeds Guide column exclusive rights if contract signed 2006 GBP 0 0 GR XXXX
LinuxUser & Developer (Horsepower Media) four page feature (3000 words) all rights 2003 GBP 400 X
Living History 700 words + submitted pics (£20 per pic used) FBS _Origin 2004 GBP 110
London Jewish News (Totally plc) Travel piece 2003 GBP 30 GR XXXX
London Magazine (Premiere Publishing) feature (how long?) 1996 GBP 300 -
MacWorld per page _IDG 2008 GBP 100 GR XX
Maxim feature 2500 words + exes FBS _Dennis 2002 GBP 1000
MCN (formerly Motorcycle News) 100-word news item, including supplying pix from PR agent _EMAP 2006 GBP 200
Media Transasia feature $200 - $400; say 1995 GBP 620 -
Melody Maker gig reviews _IPC 1994 GBP 30 - XX
Micro Mart any piece (circa 600 words) no licence specified _TMG 2005 GBP 30 GR XXXX
Microsoft Windows XP: The Official Magazine 1/4 page review (277 words). Was told they had staffers who were "happy to do it for £14" All rights _Future 2002 GBP 20 0 XXXX
M-iD (Infoconomy) 1800 word feature all rights 2003 GBP 540 GR O
Military Modelling article 1997 GBP 140 -
Mixmag 400 plus graphics _IPC 1998 GBP 25 - XXXX
Mizz 80 word quote from pop band interview _IPC 2004 GBP 27
MMM features, words and pictures, per page (don't pay until published and have a lead time of two years) - job turned down! 2009 GBP 40 XXX
Mojo 500-word lead book review , terms as Q/Mojo freelance agreement _Bauer 2008 GBP 191 GR
Mojo book review 160 words , terms as Q/Mojo freelance agreement _Bauer 2008 GBP 69 GR
Mojo DVD review 140 words , terms as Q/Mojo freelance agreement _Bauer 2008 GBP 43 GR
Mojo album reviews (standard length: 160 words) - minimum good 'til April 2006 FBSR _EMAP 2006 GBP 41.20 HA
Mojo short album reviews - one column worth - minimum good 'til April 2006 FBSR _EMAP 2006 GBP 154.50 HA
Mojo book reviews (standard length: 180 words) FBSR _EMAP 2003 GBP 65 GR
Mother + Baby feature all rights 2004 GBP 250 GR X
Motor Caravan Monthly feature per page, words and pictures, first world rights _IPC 2009 GBP 60 XXX
Motorcycle Voyager feature, per page of mag 2003 GBP 200 O
Motorsport News 350-word news story from Caribbean; plus five pics (pics not published) all rights _HM 2005 GBP 9.80 XXXX
My Weekly short story FBS _DCT 2001 GBP 60
Natural Health + Wellbeing feature on alternative health 2001 GBP 150
New Internationalist film review 2009 GBP 85
New Internationalist 250-word book review 2003 GBP 75
New Internationalist book review 2001 GBP 75
New Scientist 200-word book review, all rights and your firstborn _RBI 2002 GBP 90 0 GR
New Statesman (Progressive Media) 600-word "Observations" (newsy comment piece - two freelances report identical rate) 2009 GBP 100
Newwave Magazine (Thames Water / Square One) 250-word feature 2004 GBP 250
NME feature per page of mag _IPC 2009 GBP 100 XX
Non-League Paper match coverage up to 2005 GBP 80 X
Noticias Latinamerica 2 900-word pages 2003 GBP 170
Nursery World feature 2006 GBP 230 GR
Outdoor Photography (GMC pubs) 900 words + 3 stock pix FBS 2004 GBP 200
PC Format Reviews, features, tutorials - rate per magazine page of 600-1000 words Six months exclusive; can reprint in other titles or online without extra payment _Future 2001 GBP 70 0 XXXX
People two-page spread US$2500 = _AOLTW 2003 GBP 1600
People reporting, per hour US$25 = _AOLTW 2003 GBP 16
Pet Dogs Features with pictures up to 1500 words terms Exclusive first use _Ashdown 2008 GBP 100 XXX
Pink Paper anything over 400 words 1998 GBP 40 - XX
Plan B feature per page of mag 2009 GBP 10 XXXX
Plastic Electronics 2000-word feature , FBS, telephone exes paid 2008 GBP 500
Practical Internet Per page, features. Can be used in more than one publication. Expenses extra. 2000 GBP 40 XXX
Practical Motorhome features per page, words and pictures, first world rights _HM 2009 GBP 100 XX
Press Gazette 400-word letter (?!) 2007 GBP 50
Press Gazette diary piece no terms discussed 2007 GBP 30 O
Press Gazette 400 word news story (was told they pay £40 per piece) FBS, would not agree extra for web _Quantum 2003 GBP 50 X
Press Gazette 400 word news story (was told they pay £40 per piece) FBS, would not agree extra for web _Quantum 2003 GBP 50 X
Preview 1500w feature with pics - for trade mag _Brown 2005 GBP 300
Private Eye batch of three stories 2001 GBP 300
Public Health News attend and write up a conference 2004 GBP 250
Quintessentially changed terms after delivery saying they had to wait for ad revenue until they would pay: member withdrew the work 2009 GBP 200 XXXX
Radio Times 400 wd feature with photos at 50p per word one-off use _BBC 2006 GBP 200 GR
Reach 750-word and pictures package FBS _PA 2006 GBP 250
Real Real Opinion (celebrity interviews) _Bauer 2003 GBP 750 GR O
Rugby Times (League Publications Ltd.) interview 2003 GBP 50 XXXX
Scarlet (Helix media) feature - per page paid 30 days after publishing 2007 GBP 50 XXX
Sci Fi Now Interview FBS _Future 2009 GBP 120 X
Self Build and Design article FBSR 2004 GBP 550 O
Songlines short album review (for terms see website - then negotiate!) 2009 GBP 20 GR X
Spin 80-90-word album review 2008 USD 180 O
Spin 225-word album review 2008 USD 450 O
Sport Diver 4 page with photos FBS _ECN 2007 GBP 200 GR XX
Sport, The page lead: 'sell your soul for only a teaspoon of pottage' 1997 GBP 80 - XXX
Square Mile (Square Up Media) feature (unspecified word count) including an interview FBS, no expenses, not taxed at source 2008 GBP 400 X
Square Mile (Square Up Media) feature (unlimited word count) with interview and photographs FBS, no expenses, pay 30 days after publication of magazine NOT after submission 2008 GBP 500 X
Square Mile (Square Up Media) feature article (word count unspecified i.e 1500 - 2000) FBS, no expenses, not taxed at source 2008 GBP 300 X
Study Abroad interviewing, photos (pay extra), writing piece of 500 words 2001 GBP 225 GR
Study Abroad contract reporter not taxed at source + £70 for expenses 2001 GBP 225
Sunday Express spread _NS 2003 GBP 1500
The Biz (pharma company in-house mag) half-page feature/news shorts (about 100 words) 2008 GBP 100 GR
The Catholic Herald 800 word feature one photo, no prod/exes FBS 2008 GBP 50 XXX
The Criminal Lawyer articles up to 3000 words on the latest criminal law issues in the UK all rights - sold on to Westlaw and Lawtel legal databases _Tottel 2008 GBP 90 0 GR XXXX
The Ecologist book review 700 words 2001 GBP 100
The Economist 650 word story one off payment, no expenses, not taxed at source _Pearson 2005 GBP 200
The List (Edinburgh and Glasgow) reviews, each 1997 GBP 20 - XX
The Universe 1000 word centre-spread feature + three photos _Gabriel 2008 GBP 100 X
The Word short album review _DH 2009 GBP 40
The Word Full page lead album review _DH 2009 GBP 150
The Word 150-word album review 2008 GBP 40 GR
The Word 150-word album reviews (but covering 2 albums) 2008 GBP 60
Time Out Pubs and Bars Guide 140-160 word reviews _TOut 2004 GBP 10 XXX
Time Out bar review _TOut 2004 GBP 10 GR XXX
Times Education Supplement 500-word back column _TSL 2008 GBP 300 O
Times Educational Supplement per weekly columnette _NI 1998 GBP 85 -
TNT 2 pages text + images 2004 GBP 75 XXX
Toplum Postasi (Turkish local paper) per day 1998 GBP 25 - ??
UK Men's Health 2 pages feature, £200 per page all rights taken by publisher _Rodale 2003 GBP 400 0
Uncut short album review (100 words) _IPC 2004 GBP 20 GR X
Unity Magazine (Inline skate mag) full page (1000 words + 5 photos) FBS 2005 GBP 85 0 GR XXX
Us Magazine (Profile Pursuits PMG worldwide Toys R Us in house - celebrity feature not taxed, pay 30 days from publication, no expenses 2003 GBP 400
Village Voice 250-word album review 2008 USD 100 X
What's On in London reviews 2003 GBP 20 XXXX
What's On (in London) per review 2003 GBP 20 XXXX
Which? news article with two case studies - initially 350 which became 400 all rights 2008 GBP 165
Wisden Cricketer 200 words 2008 GBP 100
Woman feature all rights _IPC 2004 GBP 550 GR
Women's Realm two-column feature _IPC 1998 GBP 250 -
Yoga and Health 4 x 500 word columns 2006 GBP 0 0 GR XXXX
You + Your Wedding per full page diary column (approx 750 words) first UK rights _NatMag 2003 GBP 167 X
You and Your Wedding 1300 words for £300 _NatMag 2005 GBP 230.77
Your Family Tree 150 words , all rights _Future 2008 GBP 75
Zest double-page feature _NatMag 2006 GBP 400
Belgian magazine articles up to 600 words 2003 EUR 300
Belgian magazine articles 600-1200 words 2003 EUR 400
Business magazine Infringement settlement for unauthorised web use , terms original FBS fee + 100 per cent 1st month, 50 per cent each month thereafter 2008 GBP 266 1000 O
Inside Housing 2 day feature _TMG 2003 GBP 300
IPC diary item 1997 GBP 134 - X
various contract titles Feature writing 2000 GBP 200 GR

The above are the rates for Words, other / mags notified by members up to 10 November 2009.

 
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 knownGroup
3 The year in which the rate was reportedYear
4 Currency: either GBP or EUR¤
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:GBP500X
or Just sometimes we're pleasantly surprised:EUR1500300O
 

Other rates: Click below... For...
Words, per 1000 News Local Mag online Book PR Other writing, paid per 1000 words
Words, other News Local Mag online Book PR Other writing, paid per page, per item, etc
Photography News Local Mag online Book PR Other pix whether paid by the piece or the day
Broadcasting News Local Other including podcasting all sorts of radio & TV work
Shifts News Local Mag online Book PR Other work paid by the day; e.g. sub-editing
Other: Cartoon | Crossword | Illustration | Punditry | Retainer | Teaching | Tip-off | Translation
  Recently reported rates all rates reported in the past few months
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Texts & collection © 10 November 2009 NUJ; disclaimer.