freelance calculator
DESCRIPTION
Presentation for the AREG seminar in Thessaloniki, 11. december 2010TRANSCRIPT
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
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