What is a freelance contributor agreement?
Freelance commissions are often agreed in a quick email exchange, and the gaps show up later: the piece runs months late and the writer hasn't been paid, an editor cuts it heavily without asking, or the publication resells it without telling anyone. A short signed contributor agreement turns that email into clear terms both sides can rely on.
This template sets the working title, brief, word count, extras like standfirsts or contact lists, and the deadline. It asks the contributor for original, accurate work, no fabrication or plagiarism, honest dealings with interviewees, keeping notes while protecting confidential sources, disclosure of AI tool use and of conflicts of interest. It covers editing and fact-checking, a revision round, acceptance, the fee paid on acceptance or publication, a kill fee, expenses, three rights options with an exclusivity window and syndication choice, rights reverting if the piece doesn't run, images, pitching elsewhere, byline and corrections, and legal review.
- Best for
- Magazines, newsrooms, newsletters, trade titles and blogs commissioning freelancers
- Signed by
- The commissioning editor or publisher and the writer
- Rights options
- First rights plus archive, first rights only, or all rights
- Length
- 3 pages, initialled by both on every page
When to use a freelance contributor agreement
- A regional magazine commissioning a reported feature
- A newsroom hiring a freelancer to cover a story it can't staff
- A trade publication commissioning an expert explainer
- A company blog buying a series of articles with full rights
- A newsletter commissioning an essay with first publication rights
What you fill in
21 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: publication, contributor.
1 The parties
- Agreement date*
- Publisher (legal name)*
- Publication*
- Contributor's full name*
- Contributor's address
- Commissioning editor*
2 The commission
- Working title*
- Brief*
- Length (words)*
- Also to be supplied
- Copy deadline*
3 Payment
- Currency*
- Fee*
- Fee paid* on acceptance of the article · on publication of the article
- Within (days of invoice)*
- Kill fee*
- Pre-approved expenses up to
4 Rights
- Rights the publication acquires* First publication rights, then a non-exclusive licence to keep it online and in archives · First publication rights only · All rights (the copyright is assigned to the publisher)
- Exclusive period after first publication (days)*
- Syndication or resale by the publication* allowed only with the Contributor's agreement, with the income shared equally · not allowed
- Governing law*
5 Who signs
- Publication signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The commissioning editor or another person authorised to sign for the publisher.
- Contributor signature and date, initials on every page · The freelance writer.
What the freelance contributor agreement covers
- The commission
- Accuracy, sources and originality
- Editing and fact-checking
- Fee, kill fee and expenses
- Rights
- Byline and corrections
- Images and pitching
- Legal matters
- General
Using the freelance contributor agreement, step by step
1 Name the parties and editor
Enter the publisher, the publication, the writer and the commissioning editor.
2 Write the commission
Enter the working title, brief, length, any extras and the deadline.
3 Set the money
Enter the fee, whether it's paid on acceptance or publication, payment terms, the kill fee and any expense budget.
4 Choose the rights and send
Choose which rights you acquire, the exclusive window and syndication, then send it to the writer to sign.
Tips before you send it
- Pay on acceptance where you can — publication dates slip, and writers notice which titles pay promptly.
- Agree the kill fee up front; it's the clause that matters most when plans change.
- If you need all rights, say so now and price it in; many writers expect to keep copyright.
- Ask for interviewee contact details with the copy so fact-checkers can work quickly.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Freelance contributor agreement: frequently asked questions
What is a kill fee?
A payment to the writer if the publication decides not to use an article that was delivered on time and to the brief, before the full fee has become payable. Under this template, all rights stay with the writer, who may publish it elsewhere.
Can the editor change my article?
Yes, for length, clarity, house style and legal reasons, and the publication writes the headline and standfirst. The editor must consult you on any change that materially alters meaning, tone or argument, and you can ask for your byline to be removed if you can't accept the final edit.
What if the article never runs?
If it isn't published within 6 months of acceptance, the writer may take back the rights after written notice. They keep any fee already paid, and if the fee hasn't been paid yet, the kill fee becomes due.
Do I have to say if I used AI tools?
Yes. The contributor must tell the editor if any part of the article was written or substantially drafted with AI tools, and how they were used.
Can it be signed electronically?
In most countries, including the US (ESIGN Act and UETA), the UK, the EU (eIDAS) and Canada, an electronic signature is generally valid for an agreement like this one. FileIt keeps an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion with the signed PDF as evidence of who signed and when.