New survey data from the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) reveals freelance journalists, photographers, cartoonists and media workers are at crisis point – with many earning less than minimum wage, not being paid superannuation and increasingly being forced out of the industry altogether.
The Pay Up for Freelancers 2026 survey report is based on responses from over 500 freelance journalists and media workers across Australia who were surveyed about their pay and conditions.
Matthew Burton, MEAA Acting Director of Media said the media industry has been in crisis for many years.
“We’ve seen 19,500 permanent employee journalist jobs disappear in the last 18 years, and over 200 regional community newspapers have closed or ceased publication”, said Mr Burton.
“Freelance journalists are playing an increasingly important role in providing high-quality public interest journalism but are often paid less than minimum wage with no superannuation.
“Over the past decade, millions of dollars of public investment has gone into supporting quality, public interest journalism. But this funding has never come with guardrails attached to ensure freelance journalists are paid minimum rates of pay and have fair working conditions.
“Media outlets have pocketed the funding and continued to exploit workers,” Mr Burton added.
The survey found:
- 36% of freelancers were paid below the relevant award minimum wage for one or more jobs in the past year
- 67% earned less than $40,000 from media work over the previous 12 months
- 37% earned less than $10,000 from media work
- 81% completed work without receiving superannuation
- Only 4% said their rates had kept pace with the cost of living
- 66% said low pay and poor conditions prevented them from prioritising journalism over other work
“Freelance journalists are often highly experienced, with 61% of respondents of our recent survey having over 20 years’ experience”, said Mr Burton.
Despite this experience, the report highlights that freelancers pay rates have remained stagnant for years, with some saying rates have declined in real terms over the past decade. Survey respondents said that these conditions are forcing people to leave the industry.
The proportion of freelancers who derive their main income from media work has fallen from 54.7 per cent in 2021 to 20.9 per cent in 2025-26, a decline of more than 60 per cent in just four years.
“If governments and media companies are serious about protecting quality journalism, they must ensure freelancers have access to fair rates, decent conditions and the basic rights that every worker deserves.
“The future of public-interest journalism depends on the people who create it. Recognition of freelance journalists in the News Bargaining Incentive is crucial to ensuring this happens,” said Mr Burton.
MEAA highlights that so far government hasn’t committed to ensuring employers pay freelancers a liveable wage. As the legislation moves into implementation, MEAA is calling on government to include a fair minimum per word rate, timely payment within 30 days of engagement and superannuation paid on top of fees for freelancers.
“The News Media Bargaining Incentive and in turn permanent employment will be completely undermined if we cannot secure minimum rights for freelancers in the legislation,” said Mr Burton.
