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!
Unsure About Pay For Journalist
zero23 on 22/05/2017 - 23:27
Last edited 23/05/2017 - 00:53 by 1 other user
Last edited 23/05/2017 - 00:53 by 1 other user
Comments
dam you're bold
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.
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.
"I guess it depends on your celery."
It always depends on the celery.
there's a bunch of factors we would need to consider
Perhaps a bunch of celery? OK … I'll get my coat …
if the celery is no good it's always greener changing jobs.
Must be beet reporting.
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.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?
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…
Thanks for your response! Definitely been helpful. Not really a known publication. More of an uprising one hahaha
Journalists are paid either per article, or on a salary. What is this "journalism" you are doing exactly?
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.
sounds like a scandal….under paid workers…… some should report this to the media….but whom?
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/MA000067This 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.
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.
heres an idea, ask your employer.