NWU Bay Area Journalism Group

The Bay Area Local Chapter Journalism Group meetings alternate between San Francisco or the East Bay. We vary the meeting times and places to accommodate speaker schedules or site availability.

The NWU's National Journalism page has resources for journalists, including our Standard Journalism Contracts that set out a fair and reasonable working relationship between writer and publisher. Also see the documents in the Standards and Guides section.

Here is a brief "journalists' guide" to the NWU broken into three groups, Information and Networking, Help with Contracts and Pay, Finding Work (Press Passes and Job Hotline), and Organizing/Advocacy.

Information and Networking

NWU-Journalism National Discussion list
The list is open to any NWU member who works or has worked as a journalist and wishes to exchange information with other members about working as a freelancer, developments in the industry, or organizing activities of the division. To subscribe to the list, email:
NWU-JournalismDivList-subscribe@topica.com.

Journalism Division News
The Journalism Division News is published approximately every four weeks and is emailed to members of the union who have expressed an interest in journalism. It also is posted in a member-only section of the NWU website. The J Div News includes news of interest to journalists, updates on NWU campaigns, and relevant labor news. If you are an NWU member and would like to receive the J Div News by email, please contact changes@nwu.org and request that journalism be added as a primary interest to your membership file.

American Writer
All members of the union also receive the magazine American Writer on a quarterly basis.

Help with contracts and pay

Media Rates Database (MRD)
The Media Rates Database (MRD) includes information such as rate of pay, type of contract signed, and a publisher's willingness to negotiate at hundreds of print and electronic publications. The MRD is compiled by working writers with direct experience at each of the publications listed. To contribute information to the MRD, complete a survey by going to Media Rates Survey. To access the MRD (a member-only service), go to Media Rates Database

One-Dollar-A-Word-or More List
The One-Dollar-A-Word-or-More List includes publications that, based on member-recommendations, pay at least one dollar-a-word or more, the minimum rate recommended by the NWU. This list (open to all writers) as well as a report on pay rates for journalists, can be viewed at List of Publications That Pay One Dollar A Word Email nominations for the list to dian@nwu.org.

Contracts and Guides
The NWU has produced Standard Journalism Contracts for print and online media and a Freelance Writers Guide (available to members at a discount) including current rates and practice. For more information and/or to order a copy of the Freelance Writers Guide, go to NWU Freelance Writers' Guide

Grievance and Contract Division (GOCA)
The Grievance and Contract Division of the NWU (GOCA) offers free contract advice and grievance assistance to al NWU members. For more information about GOCA, how best to negotiate a contract, and to request GOCA's assistance, go to Grievance & Contract page.

NWU Seminars on the Business of Writing
The NWU regularly offers seminars around the country on topics such as contract negotiation, syndication, and taxes for writers. These seminars are open to all writers but to NWU members at a discount. For more information on seminars being offered in your area, contact your local NWU chair. For a list of NWU contacts, go to Contact Information

Publication Rights Clearinghouse (PRC)
The Publication Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) is the first collective rights licensing agency for freelance writers in the United States. The PRC licenses rights to already published freelance material so that writers can benefit from additional sales of their work. Registering with the PRC is free and open to all writers, regardless of their membership in the NWU. For more information about the PRC, go to About the Publication Rights Clearinghouse (PRC)

Electronic Rights
The NWU Journalism Division has produced numerous documents regarding electronic rights, including what we consider equitable treatment of creators and how freelancers can best negotiate for e-rights. These documents include the union's Electronic Rights Policy and Electronic Rights Negotiation Strategies.

Finding Work

Press Passes
An NWU press pass will prove that you are an experienced and legitimate member of the press, while enabling you to preserve your independence as a freelancer. The Union will certify that members are working journalists by issuing a Union endorsed press credential to those who qualify. For more information about receiving a press pass, contact tanya@nwu.org

NWU Job Hotline
The Job Hotline lists writing jobs throughout the country. Everyone is welcome to look at job listings but the names and phone numbers of the employers, who list the jobs, are only given out to members of the NWU. The Hotline is a cooperative, non-profit venture. For more information on the hotline, visit Writers: How To Use the Hotline

4. Advocacy/Organizing

To assist writers in organizing for better pay, contracts, and treatment by the industry, the NWU created the NWU Organizing Manual (pdf). This manual gives practical information on organizing local, grass roots campaigns. It also includes an extensive index, with documents such as a model demand letter, filing in small claim court, and a model resolution for Central Labor Councils.

Members interested in working on local campaigns and activities should contact their local chairs. For a list of local chairs, go to Contact Information Writers interested in working on national activities and campaigns can contact dian@nwu.org.