Kill Fee
A Kill Fee is a payment made to writers when their assigned article or content is not published. This is a standard practice in magazine and publishing industries where editors might decide not to use a commissioned piece for various reasons, such as change in editorial direction, timing issues, or content not meeting expectations. It's usually a percentage (typically 20-25%) of the original agreed payment, meant to compensate writers for their time and effort even though the work won't be published. Understanding Kill Fees is important in publishing because it's a common term in freelance contracts and shows up frequently in job descriptions for editors who need to manage budgets and writer relationships.
Examples in Resumes
Managed freelance budget including Kill Fee negotiations with writers
Developed standardized Kill Fee policy for freelance contributors
Administered Kill Fee payments and contract terms for unpublished articles
Typical job title: "Magazine Editors"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Magazine Editors
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you handle situations where a writer disputes a kill fee?
Expected Answer: Should discuss negotiation strategies, contract interpretation, maintaining professional relationships, and balancing budget constraints with fair treatment of writers.
Q: What factors do you consider when establishing a kill fee policy?
Expected Answer: Should mention standard industry practices, budget considerations, different types of assignments, writer experience levels, and how to create fair and sustainable policies.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What is your process for determining when to kill a story versus working with the writer on revisions?
Expected Answer: Should explain evaluation of content quality, timeline constraints, budget implications, and strategies for writer communication and story development.
Q: How do you communicate kill fee terms to new writers?
Expected Answer: Should discuss contract clarity, setting expectations upfront, explaining payment terms, and maintaining professional relationships.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is a kill fee and when is it typically used?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic understanding of kill fees as partial payment for unused work and common situations when they apply.
Q: How would you track kill fee payments in your budget?
Expected Answer: Should show understanding of basic budget management and record-keeping for cancelled assignments and partial payments.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of freelance contracts
- Managing simple writer agreements
- Budget tracking
- Communication with writers
Mid (2-5 years)
- Negotiating kill fee terms
- Managing freelance budgets
- Handling writer disputes
- Developing assignment agreements
Senior (5+ years)
- Creating kill fee policies
- Managing large freelance teams
- Complex budget management
- Strategic content planning
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with freelance writer management
- Lack of understanding of standard publishing contracts
- Poor communication skills
- No budget management experience
- Unfamiliarity with standard industry payment practices
Related Terms
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