Potential PR/investor relations job with public company out of nowhere, unsure how to properly handle this

So I write on a relatively well known investing site a few times a month for some extra cash. I covered this very under-covered company a few times (one of the few who have written about them in years, and maybe the only with bullish sentiment). Then their PR guy reached out to me with a request to author a new article with help/input from the company to combat an absolute slandering posted by an "investment research firm". I tell him I'm interested and we discussed everything on the phone earlier today.

Everything went great until just before ending the call he mentions that the company will pay me whatever my rate is.. I just finished college and have never done this, so I failed to realize the obvious "OK great" answer in lieu of a rate, and mentioned how I'd never done a contracted article for a public company before and am not sure what my rate would be. He says ok we'll figure everything out later on.

I just got my degree in a mindnumbing field of science and am on my way to working for 50k at a job I already loathe across the country (start in February). Is this a possible saving grace? I absolutely love writing about investments and I know I'm talented at it. This is an $800 million company. Should I tell them I'd like a 6 month contract for $X,000/month or try to negotiate a one-time payment and go from there or work for cheap initially to try to get a job or WHAT?? I was incredibly stoked about this whole experience until I was reminded about my non-existent negotiation skills and lack of knowledge of contracted PR pay scales etc.. Please someone advise me on what to do. Any thoughts or calming melodies are appreciated.

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