Unsure About Pay For Journalist

Hello fellow OzBargainers,
I've recently started work as a journalist and was just wondering if I should be paid for time spent outside of work doing work? I.e. writing articles at home and doing research. This is part time work.
Any help is appreciated!

Comments

  • -7

    heres an idea, ask your employer.

    • +1

      dam you're bold

  • +1

    I guess it depends on your celery.

    I mean, what kind of $$$ do you get now? Also, are you new to the industry, or new to journalism or aren't up to speed… there's a bunch of factors we would need to consider.

    • +2

      I'm definitely new to the industry because writing was more of a hobby for me and my degree has nothing to do with journalism I get around $70 but that's for separate work from the same employer (getting paid to do some number crunching). The job description had $21 an hour.

    • +9

      "I guess it depends on your celery."

      It always depends on the celery.

      • +1

        there's a bunch of factors we would need to consider

        Perhaps a bunch of celery? OK … I'll get my coat …

        • +3

          if the celery is no good it's always greener changing jobs.

        • +7

          @RowdyAlpha: Yes, someone may dangle a carrot.

      • +2

        Must be beet reporting.

  • +1

    So you get paid by the hour rather than flat rate?
    If by the hour and you job includes field work then i would think so, depends on company.
    I sometimes do work from home on the weekend….but to catch up, so just flat salary.

    • +1

      The work I do at home is something I wouldn't be considered catch up. I guess to break it down:

      On Sundays I do field work and get paid $70 for that and I write an article then.

      Then on Tuesday's and Wednesday's I release three articles on Tuesday and the one on Wednesday but aren't paid for that. So far I've spent around 4-5 hours total on 2 of the 3 articles. Did that make sense?

  • +1

    OK, it really is a tricky one as you are brand new, but I would probably consider an extra 10-15% free work OK but if you're getting paid for 5 hours and putting in 10 hours then I would keep on looking for more opportunities unless it is a known publication that will look like good on your resume.

    In reality though $21 is on the lower scale so I would be hesitant about free hours, whereas if you were on $30 then you may do some free hours here and there…

    • +2

      Thanks for your response! Definitely been helpful. Not really a known publication. More of an uprising one hahaha

  • +1

    Journalists are paid either per article, or on a salary. What is this "journalism" you are doing exactly?

    • +1

      It's for local sport. Does that change anything? I'm labelled as a sports journalist

      • I don't think a local newspaper can afford to pay $150 to cover local sport. Large statewide newspapers are struggling as it is. Regarding 'journalist', do you actually do story digging and investigation or just scores?

        • That's a fair call. I do one feature article which would be similar to story digging and three summaries of what happened across several leagues.

  • +1

    sounds like a scandal….under paid workers…… some should report this to the media….but whom?

  • +3

    Why are there all these comments saying, "it depends" or "you're new"?
    The award for journalists is published at the Fair Work site:
    http://awardviewer.fwo.gov.au/award/show/MA000067

    This isn't a matter of differing opinions, assuming your employer is an Australian business (conditions obviously differ overseas).

    The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance is the relevant union:
    https://www.meaa.org/

    An old journo I knew used to call it the Clowns alliance, to register his disgust at the merger of the journalists with performing arts…

    If you aren't actually employed as a journalist, but act as a freelance writer, you won't have the benefit of award conditions.

  • +3

    I have done occasional pieces for publications although the last one was several years ago. I always got paid per article. I have never worked as a salaried journalist and colleagues tell me that such jobs are increasingly harder to get. The whole industry is moving to a freelance model.

    • Me too. But OP says they are employed as a journalist, and notes an hourly rate.

      • I did note that the OP quotes an hourly rate but he / she seems to be being paid by task. For example 'On Sundays I do field work and get paid $70 for that'. In my experience fieldwork / prep always takes much longer than you expect and no-one is really interested in paying you an hourly rate for it. They just focus on the final 800 word article for which they will pay a set rate. Just my experience.

Login or Join to leave a comment