C.E.P. Media - Freelance

Freelance Rates

Determining What To Charge

Many freelancers who have contacted us have asked for information about how much our current members working in the media earn. They need this information to determine the proper rates to charge.

While the official position of the Canadian Freelance Union about appropriate minimum rates will be made by the membership of the new local, the principles guiding our thinking are clear.

All those who work in the media — employee or independent contractor — have certain interests in common. These include: A desire for high standards in our various crafts, ethical behavior and earning enough income to provide a good standard of living.

The primary purpose of our union is to defend and promote the interests of our members, and all those who work in the media, through collective action. This means working together, defending each other and promoting shared interests.

Collective action promoting shared interests means that we shall strive for minimum freelance payments that are equivalent to those paid our employed members. In other words, it is the position of the Canadian Freelance Union that minimum freelance rates should correspond to wages plus benefits paid to media employees under current collective agreements.

Using freelancers allows the large companies that own most of Canada’s media tremendous flexibility in staffing levels, a significant cost saving in itself. Plus freelancers provide their own space, equipment and software. Any further cost saving garnered through payment of freelance rates that undercut established wages and benefits are against the interests of all media workers and will be resisted by the Canadian Freelance Union.

As a first step towards ensuring proper minimum freelance rates we are providing the daily and hourly rates paid under a selection of CEP Media contracts for reporters, photographers, artists and columnists. This information is to help you decide what you should charge.

We have included a selection of small, medium and large media outlets. The equivalent minimum freelance payment is the daily or hourly rate plus 40 per cent in lieu of benefits. (Our collective agreements provide benefits that include holiday pay, medical/dental, pensions, maternity leave top-ups, sick leave, long-term disability etc.) A minimum shift is four hours, so minimum freelance payment for a small job should be the four-hour equivalent.

On top of these equivalent minimum rates, individual freelancers should add their cost of overhead (rent, equipment, software etc.).

We will be regularly adding information to this page to cover other kinds of media work. Please contact Gary Engler at 416.238.4556 or 604.629.6478 or 902.442.1316 or email gengler@rogers.com if you have any questions or suggestions.

Large Dailies
Bell GlobeMedia
Globe and Mail (7 hour day)
Reporter/Photographer (6 years)	$40.17 /hr	$281.19 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$56.25 /hr	$395.00 /day

Starting Reporter/Photographer	$23.34 /hr	$163.36 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$32.85 /hr	$230.00 /day

Artist/Designer (6 years)	$40.17 /hr	$281.19 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$56.25 /hr	$395.00 /day

Starting Artist/Designer	$23.34 /hr	$163.36 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$32.85 /hr	$230.00 /day

Columnist	$296.26 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$415.00/day

Sun Media
Toronto Sun (7 hour day)
Reporter/Photographer (7 years)	$39.45 /hr	$276.15 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$55.25 /hr	$390.00 /day

Starting Reporter/Photographer	$23.79 /hr	$166.50 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$33.60 /hr	$235.00 /day

Designer (5 years)	$34.81/hr	$243.66 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$48.75 /hr	$345.00 /day

Starting Designer	$25.24 /hr	$176.65 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$35.40 /hr	$250.00 /day

Columnist	$296.45 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$415.00/day


Torstar
Toronto Star (7 hour day)
Reporter/Photographer (6 years)	$40.52 /hr	$283.64 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$56.75 /hr	$400.00 /day

Starting Reporter/Photographer	$26.27 /hr	$183.88 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$36.80 /hr	$260.00 /day

Artist/layout (6 years)	$40.52 /hr	$283.64 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$56.75 /hr	$400.00 /day

Starting Artis/layout	$26.27 /hr	$183.88 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$36.80 /hr	$260.00 /day

Columnist	$298.02 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$420.00/day

FP
Winnipeg Free Press (7.5 hour day)
Reporter/Photographer (4 years)	$35.05 /hr	$262.91 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$49.10 /hr	$370.00 /day

Starting Reporter/Photographer	$25.27 /hr	$189.50 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$35.40 /hr	$270.00 /day

Artist (4 years)	$35.05 /hr	$262.91 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$49.10 /hr	$370.00 /day

Starting Artist	$25.27 /hr	$189.50 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$35.40 /hr	$270.00 /day

Columnist	$278.67 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$395.00/day



CanWest
Vancouver Sun/Province (7.5 hour day)
Reporter/Columnist (6 years)	$37.92 /hr	$284.41 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$53.00 /hr	$400.00 /day

Starting Reporter	$23.77 /hr	$178.28 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$33.30 /hr	$250.00 /day

Artist/Designer (3 years)	$37.92 /hr	$284.41 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$53.00 /hr	$400.00 /day

Starting Artist/Designer	$29.28 /hr	$219.61 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$41.00 /hr	$310.00 /day

Photographer (6 years)	$37.92 /hr	$284.41 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$53.00 /hr	$400.00/day

Starting Photographer	$23.77 /hr	$178.28 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$33.30 /hr	$250.00 /day


Smaller City Dailies

Horizon
Kelowna Courier (7.5 hour day)
Reporter/Photographer (5 years)	$24.06 /hr	$180.42 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$33.70 /hr	$255.00 /day

Starting Reporter/Photographer	$15.03 /hr	$112.76 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$21.00 /hr	$160.00 /day

Artist/Designer (4 years)	$20.48 /hr	$153.36 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$28.65 /hr	$215.00 /day

Starting Artist/Designer	$14.35 /hr	$107.35 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$20.05 /hr	$155.00 /day

Weeklies

Torstar
Metroland (Toronto area — 7 hour day)
Reporter/Photographer (4 years)	$24.67 /hr	$172.70 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$38.70 /hr	$295.00 /day

Starting Reporter/Photographer	$16.43 /hr	$115.02 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$23.00 /hr	$165.00 /day


Black Press
Metro Valley (13 papers from Hope-Bowen Island — 7.5 hour day)
Reporter/Photographer (4 years)	$27.64 /hr	$207.30 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$38.70 /hr	$295.00 /day

Starting Reporter/Photographer	$19.34 /hr	$145.05 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$27.10 /hr	$205.00 /day

Graphic Artist (4 years)	$27.64 /hr	$207.30 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$38.70 /hr	$295.00 /day

Starting Artist/Designer	$16.58 /hr	$124.35 /day
Equivalent freelancer rate	$23.25 /hr	$175.00/day