Last reviewed: Next review due:
What is a kill fee?
A kill fee is a payment made to a freelance journalist when a commissioned piece is not published — usually because the editor changes their mind, the editorial angle shifts, or the publication runs out of space or budget. The “kill” is the editorial decision not to publish; the fee is the contractual compensation for the time and effort you invested following the commission.
Kill fees exist because a commission is a contract. When you accept a commission, you commit time, energy, and often expenses to delivering the agreed piece. If the publication unilaterally decides not to use the work, they have broken that contract. The kill fee is the agreed remedy for that breach.
The NUJ Freelance branch guidance is clear: if the piece is killed before you deliver it, you are entitled to at least 50% of the agreed fee. If the piece is delivered and accepted — meaning the editor reviewed it and it met the brief — and is then killed, you are entitled to 100% of the agreed fee. These are minimum recommendations; your contract may specify higher rates.
Kill fee rates at a glance
| Scenario | NUJ minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Killed after briefing, before any work done | 0–25% | Arguable; some contracts exclude this stage. NUJ recommends at least 25% for a confirmed commission. |
| Killed after substantial research/work, before delivery | 50% | NUJ standard minimum. This is the most common kill scenario. |
| Killed after copy delivered and accepted | 100% | Full fee due. Delivery and acceptance = contract fulfilled on your side. |
| You withdraw the piece yourself | 0% | No kill fee if you initiate the withdrawal. You may still recover documented expenses. |
| Legal or regulatory block on publication | Negotiated | Where kill is due to injunction or legal advice, position depends on contract wording. |
When kill fee rights arise
- 1An editor commissions a feature, then the section is cut in a redesign before your delivery deadline.
- 2You deliver a completed investigation and the editor accepts it, then the legal department advises against publication.
- 3A magazine commissions a profile, then the subject withdraws access and the editor decides not to proceed.
- 4A publication is sold or ceases trading while your commissioned piece is in progress.
- 5An editor who commissioned you leaves and their replacement kills outstanding commissions.
- 6The publication runs a competing piece from another source before yours is published and cancels yours.
Red flags — when kill fee claims become complicated
- No written commission — without evidence of an agreed commission, the claim rests entirely on circumstantial evidence.
- The contract specifies a kill fee below 25% — technically valid if signed, though NUJ advises not signing such terms.
- The editor contends the work did not meet the brief — blurs the line between a kill and a rejection on quality grounds.
- You withdrew the piece after acceptance — this extinguishes the kill fee right; it becomes a mutual cancellation.
- The publication is in administration — your claim becomes a creditor claim in the insolvency process, not a contractual claim against the editor.
- The commission was verbal only and the editor now denies it — why you must confirm every commission in writing.
Kill fee claim checklist
- Locate and preserve the original commission email or contract showing the agreed fee.
- Confirm the date the kill was communicated and how (email, phone call, verbal — if phone/verbal, send a confirming email immediately).
- Establish which stage the piece was at when killed: briefing, research, draft, delivered, or accepted.
- Calculate the kill fee owed based on the stage and your contract terms (or NUJ guidance if no contract term applies).
- Send an invoice for the kill fee within 30 days of the kill, citing the commission date, agreed fee, and kill fee clause.
- If no response in 14 days, escalate with a formal letter before action citing your contractual right.
- If the publisher disputes the kill fee on quality grounds, request written specifics of the alleged quality failure.
- If the dispute is not resolved, contact the NUJ (if a member) for assistance or take the claim to the HMCTS Small Claims Court (for amounts under £10,000).
Calculate your kill fee and generate a claim email
Enter the agreed commission fee and the stage at which the piece was killed. The Kill Fee Calculator gives you the amount owed and generates a professional claim email you can send immediately.
Common kill fee mistakes
- Accepting a kill without invoicing for the kill fee — many publishers will not pay unless you invoice.
- Waiting too long to claim — delays make claims harder to evidence and easier for publishers to dispute.
- Not keeping the original commission correspondence — without it, your claim rests on memory.
- Agreeing to reduce the kill fee under pressure without seeking NUJ advice first.
- Treating all kills as the same — the stage at which work was killed determines the rate.
- Not considering the right to retain the piece and resell it elsewhere — check whether your contract allows this (it should).
- Assuming the NUJ can only help members who have the kill fee in their contract — the NUJ also advises on claims where no contract exists.
Related guides
Freelance Journalism Contracts
Ensure your kill fee clause is in writing before you start any commission.
Invoicing for UK Freelance Journalists
How to invoice a kill fee and what to include on the invoice.
Pitch Tracker for Freelancers
Your pitch tracker provides the commission date and fee evidence you need for a kill fee claim.
Copyright & Licensing
After a kill, your copyright reverts — know your right to resell the piece.
Primary sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the NUJ guidance on kill fee rates?
The NUJ Freelance branch guidance recommends: 50% of the agreed fee if the commission is cancelled after briefing but before copy is delivered; 100% of the agreed fee (the full amount) if completed copy has been delivered and accepted by the editor, then subsequently not used. Some publishers offer lower rates in their standard contracts — the NUJ recommends negotiating these up before signing.
Can I claim a kill fee if there is no written contract?
You may still have a claim even without a formal written contract. If you can demonstrate that a commission existed (via emails, WhatsApp messages, or a chain of correspondence showing offer, acceptance, and fee), you have a contractual right to be paid for the work done. You may also have a claim under quantum meruit — a legal principle entitling you to reasonable payment for work you were asked to do and reasonably expected to be paid for. Evidence of the commission is critical: keep all correspondence.
What if the editor says the piece was rejected on quality grounds?
A rejection on quality grounds — where the editor contends the work was not of the standard commissioned — is different from a kill (where acceptable work is killed for editorial or commercial reasons). If quality is genuinely disputed, the kill fee position is less clear and may involve negotiation. However, if you delivered work that met the brief and it was accepted before being killed, full payment is due regardless of later second thoughts. The NUJ can support members in these disputes.
How long do I have to claim a kill fee?
You should claim as soon as you are aware the commission has been killed — typically within 30 days of being notified. In the event of a formal legal claim, the standard limitation period for contractual claims in England and Wales is six years (Limitation Act 1980). Do not delay: prompt written claims are taken more seriously and reduce the risk that the commissioning editor or relevant records are no longer available.