The Freelance Calculator Toralf SandåkerThe Norwegian Journalist Union

The Freelance Calculator Norwegian Journalist Union’s tool for freelancejournalists negotiating their own fees

The Freelance Calculator Download: http://bit.ly/freelancecalcPresentation: http://slidesha.re/FC-pres

The Freelance Calculator

Time based for billing per hourBased on annual wage statistics of the media industryTargets staff ’s wages after calculating

freelancer’s real expensesDifferentiating rates between media companies

The main problem

Lower freelance rates leads to cuts in editorial staffs which leads to lower rates …

The media industry in Norway

✓Media convergence and ownership concentration✓5-6 multi/national companies control most publications✓3 multinational companies control magazines almost 100%✓2 broadcasting companies dominate TV and (partly) radio✓Ca. 150 daily newspapers to 5 million people✓Only one web news site makes money (VG Nett)

The Norwegian Journalist Union

✓Ca. 9500 members (2009)✓46% located in Oslo, 8-9% freelance✓43% of members are female✓The only journalist union, ≈ 100% coverage in trad. media✓Central and local collective agreements✓Freelancers are a special section of the union✓Few collective agreements for freelancers

Freelancer’s position

Until 2002:✓Independent non-employed workers✓Ban on organizing as businesses✓Recommended rates from the Union✓Little or no content exchange – independent publications✓Predominantly single media publishers

From 2002:✓Freelance journalists professionalize as

one person businesses✓Multi media publishers & ownership concentration

Freelancer’s rates

✓Fixed rates by words, lines or pages (or pictures)✓Some use of hourly rates for hired freelancers working

practically as temporary staff✓Most freelancers work for broadcast, trade press and

periodicals, refuse working for newspapers✓Freelancer’s operating costs often neglected in fees

Reviewing freelancers income situation in 2008

The challenge:✓Lack of professionalism as businesses✓Avoiding price fixing

✓Relevance of rates (to market diversity)

The mission:✓Link freelance rates to staff wages

✓Get paid by the hour, not by the word✓There is no connection between journalistic quality

and number of words

Developing the Calculator

Utilizing union strengths✓The Union’s detailed wage statistics✓The entire union behind goal of equal earning

Playing the game✓Developing the freelancers as professional businesses

Adapting to the market✓Getting acceptance for equal wages and operating cost

✓Balancing work value with market value

DEMO