This unilateral announcement will be in place for one year from the date of acceptance by both the Hearing Things editorial collective and the National Writers Union. At the end of that period, Hearing Things will re-evaluate the conditions outlined below, and update the unilateral announcement with any necessary amendments offered by their freelancers, contract workers, and with the assistance of representatives from the National Writers Union. Hearing Things will make freelancers aware of any UA and contract updates as soon as possible.
For the purposes of this announcement, all parties agree that freelancer is defined as any media worker providing labor and/or services to Hearing Things, including but not limited to writers, photographers, artists, video and/or audio producers, among others. All parties agree that “the publication” refers to Hearing Things. A contractor is any media worker contributing to Hearing Things on a mutually agreed-upon ongoing basis. The negotiated rate is the full fee stated by the assigning or accepting member of the Hearing Things editorial board, as stated in any contracts or email correspondence related to the freelancers’ assignment or submission.
Rates
The standard base rates at Hearing Things are as follows:
- The minimum rate for shorter written-out pieces (at least 800 words) is $350, and $1,000 for longer stories (at least 2,000 words). Hearing Things will never pay less than the minimum rate. Hearing Things commits to increasing rates as our budget and resources allow and will update freelancers on any applicable rate increases annually.
- Hearing Things will commit to reducing pay discrepancies across the industry for people from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups.
- Hearing Things commits to fully complying with New York City’s Freelance Isn’t Free law.
- All freelance contributors will be paid within 10 business days of publication.
- Standard rates and other conditions for photographers, audio and video producers and engineers, illustrators, and other media workers will be posted as Hearing Things determines its needs for such freelance services, in collaboration with the National Writers Union.
- In the event an assignment of an editorial nature (including but not limited to text, photo, design, video, or audio) is accepted or commissioned but cannot run in Hearing Things as anticipated, Hearing Things will offer a kill fee of 40% of the original rate.
Intellectual Property
- Hearing Things agrees that each accepted pitch or assignment is the sole property of the freelancer.
- The freelancer retains the right to republish the work after 90 days of the date of publication in a book, anthology, collection, or similar product, with original credits and acknowledgments given to Hearing Things. The freelancer does not have the right to republish in another website, magazine, or similar publication. However, the freelancer does have the right to republish an excerpt (of reasonable length) of their work in a newsletter, self-run or otherwise, with original credits and acknowledgments given to Hearing Things, along with including a link to the full original article.
Editing Process
- Hearing Things will maintain a commitment to diversity and equity among its freelancers from the point of soliciting pitches to the final stages of publication.
- All pitching and submission guidelines will be clearly detailed and made public on Hearing Things’ website.
- Contact information for editors will be made public, with instructions on where to direct freelance pitches.
- An assignment from a Hearing Things editor or a submission from a freelancer is considered accepted upon email confirmation from a Hearing Things editor. Freelancers will be issued a contract as soon as possible following email correspondence. Editors shall formally notify freelancers of the acceptance or rejection of subsequent drafts or revisions within a commercially reasonable period of time after receipt. Hearing Things will make good faith efforts to communicate about the status of an assignment on an ongoing basis.
- Once a freelancer has finished their piece and submitted it (via Google Docs) to the assigning editor, a Hearing Things editor will edit the piece and return it to the freelancer within a commercially reasonable amount of time.
- When a freelancer receives the draft back, they should expect to see copy and line edits as well as suggestions for revisions. The amount of revisions and correspondence will vary from piece to piece, depending on the complexity and length of the story. Freelancers can expect to work with one point editor, typically the editor who approved their pitch, but pieces may be reviewed by others on staff, depending on complexity and length.
- Hearing Things pledges to work with writers to maintain the writer’s voice as much as possible while maintaining our journalistic standards.
- Hearing Things pledges to provide freelancers final right to review their work before publication. In the case of a timely piece, Hearing Things also reserves the right to publish as soon as possible, and will still make a good-faith effort to give the freelancer an opportunity to review prior to publication, albeit on a tight turnaround."
- When pieces go live, Hearing Things pledges to post freelancers’ names and preferred social handles on our website and all social channels. Freelancers can choose to opt out of being named in any capacity for any reason.
- Hearing Things pledges to credit freelance writers with top billing on both the website and any social media shares for any cover stories they write.
Expenses
- Assignment-based expenses will be discussed prior to the assignment on a case-by-case basis. No expenses will be considered eligible for reimbursement unless they have been explicitly approved by a Hearing Things editor in advance. Freelancers must submit expenses alongside the first draft of their work, and will be reimbursed along with payment for said piece.
Grievance Procedure With the National Writers Union
- Hearing Things will make every effort to work out any freelance grievances on an informal basis.
- If Hearing Things cannot work out a freelancer’s grievances on an informal basis, and if that freelancer designates a representative of the NWU to meet with the magazine in an attempt to work out the grievance on the freelancer’s behalf, the process shall be as follows:
- (a) Before filing a grievance, the aggrieved freelancer and/or NWU representative will present the grievance to the freelancer’s assigning editor to try to resolve the matter without formal proceedings.
- (b) If step (a) is unsuccessful, the NWU shall submit the grievance in writing to a Hearing Things representative.
- (c) If there is no resolution within two weeks of step (b), there shall be a conciliation conference including the NWU representative, the freelancer, if possible, and a Hearing Things representative. Hearing Things shall respond to the grievance within three weeks of the conference.
- (d) If the NWU and Hearing Things cannot resolve the grievance, a board shall be convened consisting of one representative of the NWU, one of Hearing Things, and one member acceptable to both parties. The third member shall receive no compensation from either side for participation in this board. A majority opinion by the board shall be accepted by all parties.
Legal Protections
- Hearing Things will set clear safety and legal protections for freelancers, both abroad and at home, and will share those procedures with freelancers upon assigning work.
- Hearing Things will indemnify and defend a freelancer up to the limit of its available insurance, against any third-party claim arising out of or related to any article published, distributed, or assigned and any newsgathering related thereto unless such claims arise out of the freelancer’s breach of representation, warranty, or obligation under their contract. Such indemnification will include all losses, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, damages, and recoveries arising out of any such third-party claim. Hearing Things will do this if the freelancer agrees to cooperate with Hearing Things and its parent and affiliated entities, and their members, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, representatives, and agents.
- Hearing Things will commit to providing a work experience for freelancers that is free of harassment and discrimination.
- In the event a freelancer experiences physical and/or psychological harm, harassment, discrimination, or abuse of any nature in their course of work for Hearing Things, Hearing Things will resolve any dispute that arises from such harm, harassment, discrimination, or abuse through the below stated National Writers Union grievance procedure.