The effort to do so has met with a good deal of success in pressuring independent outlets to offer as much to freelancers as we can. We often manage to get within striking distance of the rates of established media and exceed the rates of abusive venture-capital owned shells like Vice.

We typically do this by paying ourselves less. That's how the math works. So, for example, I work 30hr/week moderating comments for Slate in addition to 40ish hrs for Assigned Media, while paying myself less than I make from Slate. Not complaining, but that's how I afford to pay freelancers.

Making a living freelancing at the moment is increasingly difficult, if not impossible, bc there isn't enough work. No one can support themselves solely through Assigned freelancing, but if there was a thriving ecosystem of small outlets paying similar rates ($150-200/piece) you could do OK.

Journalism as a whole is beyond dire straights. I hope there are better things ahead, but for the moment I wouldn't recommend people expect more than a bit of extra money here and there. It's all quite fucked I'm afraid. Maybe there'll be a boom after this bust? We'll see.