Contracts, conditions and Pay in the media

Unit 8: Media Industry in Context

 

 C1 Contracts, Conditions and Pay in the Media

 

Here are the main types of contracts regarding jobs in the media:

 

	Description	Positives	Negatives	Examples of media jobs using this type of contract
Freelance	A specialist in a particular field who works for themselves, finding their own work, and typically working on fairly short-term projects. In the media, creative /technical jobs are often freelance.	*Lots of flexibility in hours *Can be very highly paid *Choose your own jobs and clients, using your specialism *You are your own boss	*Hours may be intensive / unsociable *No sick pay, holiday pay or other benefits *If you do not have work, you have no wage *Pay can be very low as you are building up your reputation.	Camera operators, Editors, Journalists, sound technicians, web designers
Self-employed	Similar to freelancers in that you work for yourself. However you work under a contract as self-employed, often repeatedly for the same companies. Freelancers work on a job-by-job basis.	As above. Also: *established self-employed workers often have repeat jobs for companies that are still more flexible than permanent work.	As above	Technical jobs such as web designers / engineers, apps / games designers, camera operators, editors, sound technicians
Permanent	You have a contract that is indefinite (providing you stick to the terms and conditions). You work for an employer and your hours, pay and conditions will be laid out in the contract. You are paid a regular wage. You are entitled to holidays, sick pay and other benefits.	*Regular hours and a reliable pay gives you security and allows you to plan your time and money. *Your job is protected / secure and if you are sacked, the employer must give evidence for this. *You will get paid for holidays and illness. *You will be eligible for other benefits such as pensions and health insurance.	*Working for a boss!  *Hourly rate is usually a lot lower than that paid for freelance / self employed workers *May not be flexible, for example, doing part time hours	Business jobs in the media such as executive producers, accounts, marketing, public relations.  Some journalists
Fixed term	Like a permanent contract but for a fixed period of time, after which your work finishes.	As above. Also: *You can take on relatively small-term jobs which may be more interesting / varied than permanent work, and allow you to develop your skills in different areas.	*The contract will come to an end, after which time you need to find more work.	*marketing and public relations work for individual project or pilots.

 

 

 

Payment options:

 

There are a range of payment options for different types of work. 

• For permanent or fixed term work, this will usually take the form of a salary, which is paid weekly or monthly on a set, regular date.  This work may also attract a commission, depending on the type of work. This is an agreed extra payment for meeting specific targets, such as sales targets.
• Some fixed term work is paid at a fixed rate, which would be a lump sum which is pre-agreed with the employer.  Similarly, some freelance and self-employed contracts is paid at a fixed rate.
• Other freelance and self employed media work is paid via advances (a percentage of the total up front), or pay on completion (once the job is finished).
• For shorter / smaller freelance work, payment may be hourly or per word (writing / journalism work).
• For people starting out in their media careers, work is often voluntary / unpaid, with the idea that this will impress the employer and lead to paid work. This is a common route for media students, who undertake voluntary work experience during college holidays.  Voluntary work may have travel and / or lunch paid by the employer, but this is not compulsory.