Journalist Invoice Template

Journalist invoices should clearly identify the assignment and the deliverable delivered.

• Assignment/article title
• Publication or client
• Word count (optional)

• Per-article/story fee (most common)
• Reporting and research time (if billed separately)
• Interviews or field work (if applicable)

• Editing and revisions (if beyond scope)
• Fact-checking (if requested)

• Rights granted (first rights, one-time use, reprint)
• Reprint or extended usage licensing (if applicable)

• Subtotal, tax (if applicable), total due
• Payment terms and instructions

Journalists price assignments in different ways depending on the outlet and complexity.

1) Per article/story fee
A fixed rate per deliverable. Most common for freelance assignments.

2) Per word
Common for some outlets and certain types of writing. Word count field helps match the agreement.

3) Day rate
Used for on-location reporting, events, or special coverage.

4) Hourly add-ons
Used for extra research, interviews, or revisions outside scope.

Invoices should match the agreed model and make the deliverable clear.

Rights determine how the work can be used.

• First publication rights
• One-time use
• Non-exclusive reuse
• Reprint licensing (separate fee)

Editorial payments can be slow, so invoice clarity matters.

• Use the assignment title as the main reference
• Include publication/client name and any PO/vendor references
• Keep payment terms clear (Net 30 is common)
• Itemize extra work only when agreed