You’ve completed your article, met your deadline, and delivered exactly what was asked to be written. But months might go by without payment, because the magazine won't publish the piece until a much later issue. Even worse, the piece could get shelved due to a changing news cycle – resulting in you receiving only half of your fee.
These delayed or partial payments would be unacceptable in other industries, but for freelance journalists, they’re all too common.
Donna Ferguson, a U.K.-based journalist and committee member of Women in Journalism, an organization promoting equality and diversity in the media, has seen unfair compensation practices like these repeatedly over 12 years of freelancing. Recognizing the need for change, Ferguson and Women in Journalism teamed up with Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson, founders of the Freelancing for Journalists community, and journalist Anna Codrea-Rado, an advocate for freelancers' rights, to launch a new guide on best practices for organizations working with freelance journalists.
"I just thought it would be good to have a document that people could refer to and say to editors: this is how a good organization should behave," Ferguson explained.
Published in September, the guidelines focus on three main areas: payment and fees, pitching and writing, and freelancer’s rights. They serve as a practical resource for freelancers to advocate for better treatment and negotiate fair conditions, and provide editors with a framework for building respectful, transparent collaborations.
"It's just a small step, because we don't really have any power to make the organizations listen to us," Ferguson said. "But we hope it could help stamp out bad practice and encourage good practice."
Why editors should pay attention
The guidelines are meant to encourage editors to be engaged in building a better future for everyone, the authors said, and are intended to benefit editors as well as freelancers. For example, a transparent and fair working environment can help newsrooms attract and retain reliable contributors, who are more motivated to deliver their best work when they feel valued and respected. Implementing clear payment processes and accessible pitching guidelines can also help freelancers reduce back-and-forth communications with editors that can slow down the publishing process.
The goal is to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable industry. As Anna Codrea-Rado said in a press release, "Journalism's core function is to hold power to account, yet a flawed system undervalues the freelancers who perform this essential work."
To promote a diverse, fair and robust press, improving how the many people who play a vital role in the sector are treated is a must, the authors said. "What we need is not just freelancers, but more editors, managing editors, and staffers standing up for freelancers,” Ferguson said. After all, with ongoing media job cuts, they, too, may find themselves freelancing one day – even Ferguson was an editor once.
Global impact
Many journalists, particularly women, are drawn to freelancing for its flexibility, but they often face financial instability because of unpredictable and unfair working conditions – a global problem in the field.
Although the guidelines were developed in the U.K. and include some region-specific aspects, such as references to the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act, most of the proposed changes can be easily adapted to apply to newsrooms worldwide, Ferguson said. “Even if you're based elsewhere, they can at least serve as a reference."
In the U.K., the guidelines have already gained support from organizations like the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Journo Resources. The official document has also been shared with managing editors at numerous national magazines, newspapers, and the Society of Editors in the U.K. Journalists can also reach out to Women in Journalism if they would like it forwarded to a specific media outlet.
Moving forward, the plan is to continue to promote fair standards, encouraging newsrooms to question the harmful practices that have been normalized for so long and creating a shared understanding of how freelancers and editors can work together more effectively.
Key recommendations
Abolish kill fees
One recommendation is to abolish "kill fees" – partial payments for commissioned but never published articles, often for reasons beyond the freelancer's control. The guidelines argue that work filed on time and as agreed should always be paid in full, just as it would be in any other profession.
Initiate timely payments
The authors also recommended speeding up the payment process, which they emphasize should begin as soon as work is submitted rather than waiting until publication to avoid delays. "I've had commissions that took a year to be published and I had to wait a year to be paid," Ferguson said. "Perhaps editors don’t think about what that's like."
Ensure rate transparency
The guidelines call for organizations to openly list their standard or minimum rates and commit to regularly review them. Despite rising living costs, many freelancers have seen their fees stagnate or even decrease. "It's depressing to think that, with 12 years of experience and multiple awards, I'm being paid less now than when I wrote my first articles," Ferguson added.
Clear pitching guidelines
Publications should provide clear guidelines and contact information to submit article pitches. "It would make the industry less opaque and much easier for freelancers, especially women and young people, to confidently pitch to national newspapers or big publications," Ferguson said.
In addition to payment and pitching, the recommendations cover critical areas like safety, insurance, byline policies, and copyright licenses.
For more details, the guidance is available on the Women in Journalism website.
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