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National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981) (NWU)

Union · United States of America · Founded in 1981 · 1,500 members in 2011 · 2 rates documents · 8 figures

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NWU is one of the sources behind the journalist.net pay guide. Below are its rates documents, with every figure as printed. How the pay guide works →

About NWU

The National Writers Union is a U.S. union representing freelance writers in all genres, media and formats. Founded in 1981 in New York City, it works to improve writers’ economic and working conditions, including by maintaining rate-sharing databases and promoting minimum standards for freelance contributors.

Summary written with AI from public sources, checked 9 Nov 2026. Sources: nwu.org, en.wikipedia.org, findingaids.library.nyu.edu, ifj.org

What they publish

Freelance Solidarity Project rate-sharing database · Crowdsourced listIn force · 0The Nation freelancer agreement (negotiated with the NWU), last updated May 2025 · Publisher’s ratesIn force · 8

Their latest figures

PrintedWeb articles will be paid at minimum $.25 per commissioned word DocumentThe Nation freelancer agreement (negotiated with the NWU), last updated May 2025 · Publisher’s rates StatusIn force
PrintedPrint articles will be paid at minimum $.40 per commissioned word DocumentThe Nation freelancer agreement (negotiated with the NWU), last updated May 2025 · Publisher’s rates StatusIn force
Printeda base 8-hour minimum day rate of $500 for photo essays DocumentThe Nation freelancer agreement (negotiated with the NWU), last updated May 2025 · Publisher’s rates StatusIn force
PrintedTHE NATION will pay illustrators at minimum a $300 fee. DocumentThe Nation freelancer agreement (negotiated with the NWU), last updated May 2025 · Publisher’s rates StatusIn force
Printeda minimum $20 hourly rate DocumentThe Nation freelancer agreement (negotiated with the NWU), last updated May 2025 · Publisher’s rates StatusIn force
Printeda minimum $30 hourly rate DocumentThe Nation freelancer agreement (negotiated with the NWU), last updated May 2025 · Publisher’s rates StatusIn force
Printedaudio reporters and producers a base minimum day rate of $400 DocumentThe Nation freelancer agreement (negotiated with the NWU), last updated May 2025 · Publisher’s rates StatusIn force
Printeda minimum of $2 per minute of audio DocumentThe Nation freelancer agreement (negotiated with the NWU), last updated May 2025 · Publisher’s rates StatusIn force

Also in United States of America

TNG-CWAunion NewsGuild of New Yorkunion BLSstatistics office EFAprofessional body Who Pays Writersplatform IWW FJUunion Contentlyplatform SAG-AFTRAunion

About this data. These rates are compiled from publicly available sources and quoted as printed, with their date. We do not guarantee the accuracy of any figure. For information only: Journalist.net does not recommend or set rates. How we count

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