Channel Four News Independents' Fund

Six years ago, Channel Four decided it was time the Independent sector was allowed to breach the previously exclusive bastion of news. With a special fund set aside to commission six to eight minute films from the Indies, we threw open the doors - admittedly with some trepidation on both sides at first. From ITN's side, we wondered whether these Indies were really reliable, would they understand the constraints of news, would they be able to deliver the goods on time and in transmittable shape. The answer to all these questions has been a resounding "Yes" - with one or two minor exceptions. From the Indies' side, Channel Four News looked pretty intimidating - would we try to bigfoot them, take over their ideas and impose our editorial judgements? The answer to all these has been a resounding "No".

We've commissioned stories from every kind of Independent operation - from the large production company, in between commissions with time and stories to spare to the one man band, armed only with a Hi-8 and some good contacts. In an average week, anything up to fifteen Indies come to us with story ideas - some will be detailed proposals others a phone call to chat about an idea. If it's a fast moving story, we can commission, agree the budget, sign the contract and start filming in less than 24 hours. One of our quickest turn-arounds took less than four days from proposal to transmission. Between three and four Indie films appear on Channel Four News every month, usually in our part 3 slot at the end of the programme.

Some of our most memorable foreign films have been made by the one man band freelances, sometimes with a reporter, sometimes without, often shooting discreetly on Hi-8, relying on good personal knowledge of the area and people to get the story and keep out of trouble. Burma, Afghanistan, Haiti, Bahrain, Rwanda, Somalia, Algeria, Kurdistan and Sudan: Channel Four News Independents' Fund has financed interesting, well shot reports from all these locations and more.

One of the great advantages of the Independents' Fund is that we are able to provide a good insurance package for Indies under the scheme. So far, we've never had to claim on the policy, but it is reassuring to know it's there should you ever need it.

Channel Four News is still the only network news programme to have such a close relationship with the Independents. ITN has gained much from working with the Indies, both in terms of the material they have generated for us and the lessons we've learned from watching the way they work. I believe that it has been equally beneficial for the Indies, giving them the support and back-up of large news organisation whilst allowing them the space to produce their own stories.

Next year for the first time, Channel Four has agreed to make some money available for extra research to be done on some proposals before a final commission is given. We're looking forward to this very productive relationship bearing even greater fruit in the future.