Journalists at Nine Publishing have accepted a new offer from management, putting further industrial action on hold a day after returning to work from a five day strike.

The offer, presented at an enterprise bargaining agreement meeting, includes key demands such as a pay rise above inflation (4%, 3.75%, 3.75%), ethical use of Artificial Intelligence, a commitment to report on workplace diversity, and a fair deal for freelancers.

The offer was accepted in-principle by Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) members at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times and WA this morning, and will now be subject to a formal vote before being submitted to the Fair Work Commission for approval.

"Our members should be very proud that their solidarity with each other and their commitment to their role of public interest journalism has produced this outcome," said Acting Director of MEAA Media, Michelle Rae. "In an historic first, staff and freelancers stood side-by-side so that no-one was left behind."

"They took a stand to protect quality journalism at their mastheads and it's clear from the massive public support for the journalists while they were on strike that readers want access to quality journalism and the boards of media companies need to find a new business model.

"The public does not accept that job cuts is the solution. They want to know AI is used ethically, that both staff and freelancers have secure working conditions, and that newsrooms are representative of the diverse community they serve."

The offer was made after journalists went on a five day strike on Friday, in response to Nine's earlier failure to resolve the enterprise bargaining agreement and its announcement of up to 90 job cuts. "It is disappointing that it took a strike to focus management on coming to the table with an improved offer," Rae said.

"This could have been avoided if Nine's managers had listened to the concerns raised by union representatives over many meetings. Instead, the company's earlier failure to resolve the enterprise bargaining agreement and its announcement of up to 90 job cuts has caused reputational damage to Nine."