Freelancers at Nine, News Corp, ABC & more major publications unite for collective industry push
Freelance journalists employed by Nine, News Corp, the ABC, Guardian Australia and a number of other major publications are meeting on Monday evening in a united bid to “secure freelance rights across the industry”.
“Over the past few weeks MEAA [Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance] freelancers have been organising across the industry to get much needed recognition and improvements to freelance conditions,” a note to members explains.
“We are gaining momentum, and the time is now to join your fellow freelancers in an industry-wide meeting to discuss these developments and the next steps to secure freelance rights across the industry.”
Earlier this month, the MEAA revealed to Mumbrella that Nine management had agreed to negotiate minimum standards with freelancers, following the five-day strike by in-house staff across the Nine Publishing mastheads.
“It’s hugely significant that Nine have agreed to negotiate freelance standards because freelancers have always been on the outer when it comes to previous EBAs,” an MEAA spokesperson told Mumbrella, “so it’s massive recognition of their importance to the editorial future of the mastheads. Both staff and freelancers stood side-by-side during the strike because they have a common cause of respect at work, decent pay and conditions, and ethical, quality journalism.”
The union confirmed that News Corp management had agreed to meet with MEAA representatives to discuss freelance rates and conditions, while freelance writers from The Guardian had “significantly escalated the campaign via their recent day of action,” where a number of freelance journalists called for better conditions in a call-to-action video featuring a number of freelance writers.
Guardian freelancer Bianca Nogrady said: “I’m fighting for a say in my rights and conditions because I do the same quality journalism as in-house staff, yet I don’t get sick pay, holiday pay, or superannuation.”
MEAA tells Mumbrella the gold standard in such negotiations is the Freelance Charter of Rights, which includes dispute resolution, transparent rates of pay, 10% super, copyright protection, and the like.
“There is an increasing reliance by media outlets on freelancers, but they remain the most vulnerable and insecure part of the media workforce,” an MEAA spokesperson told Mumbrella today.
“This year so far has seen significant advances towards the objective of collective agreements with media outlets that outline specific minimum rates of pay and deadlines for payment, superannuation and other key conditions.
“Freelancers and in-house staff stood side by side during the strike action at Nine Publishing, and the backing of the journalists at Nine helped to win a commitment by management there to sit down with freelancers to discuss rates and conditions.
“There has been similar movement at News Corp, and pressure is growing for Guardian Australia to give freelancers a seat at the table after a recent social media day of action.
“Freelancers are the most precarious members of the media workforce and we call on all media employers to sign onto the MEAA Freelancer Charter of Rights to set a floor for pay and conditions and protect quality journalism.”
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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