A new online freelance fees guide has been published by the National Union of Journalists to help self-employed journalists negotiate the best rates and working conditions.

For the first time the guide is available purely online, to make it easier to access and update.

It includes a list of suggested minimum rates for broadcasting, digital media, photography, print media and public relations.

There is also advice on negotiating fees, shift payments and copyright, late and problem payments, tax and national insurance, VAT and setting up a company.

Freelances national organiser John Toner said: "The print version of the guide has been online for a couple of years, but now it is purely online to allow us to update it more frequently.

"For NUJ freelance members this is a hugely important document because it is the only document they have to help them decide what fees to charge.

"We have expanded the guide to include much more general advice and specific advice for photographers.

"We plan to keep expanding it and this can be done much more frequently online that it was in print."

The guide has been published regularly since 1973. The rates included have been drawn up via research among NUJ members.

It can be found at
www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide.