They must have heard us after all…

The Rory Peck Trust was established six years ago and, as original Committee member Rick Thompson remembers, one of its main objectives was "to influence newsgathering editors to take responsibility for the welfare of their commissioned freelancers". At the Newsworld 2000 conference last November, APTN, BBC, CNN, ITN and Reuters published a set of common safety guidelines for journalists working in war zones. Each guideline contained the phrase “staff and freelances”. This would not have been the case five years ago - they must have heard us after all.

We owe a real tribute to that special group whose ongoing and practical support is essential to our work and operations: the individuals, companies and organisations who together make up The Rory Peck Trust Committee.

To this group we are delighted to welcome:

Michael Jermey
Director of Development, ITN
Elizabeth Jones
Freelance camerawoman
Tony Maddox
Senior Vice President, Europe, Africa and Middle East, CNNI
Amy Selwyn
Head of Rights, Commercial Exploitation, BBC News
Sorious Samura
Freelance cameraman
Elizabeth Smith
Secretary-General, Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
Maria von Welser
Bureau Chief, ZDF

Long term Committee member Theo Koll (ZDF) has returned to Germany to work on a new programme. We thank him for all his support.

We sincerely welcome our new Chairman, Bob Jobbins, who has worked as a BBC foreign correspondent in the Middle East, the USA, South America and Asia. This wide experience makes him ideally placed to understand the many issues facing freelancers working in newsgathering around the world. During his time at the BBC World Service, Bob was also involved in safety training, an important aspect of our work. We are also grateful for the informed and careful input of our Deputy Chairman, Jeremy Johnson, and the efforts of our Board of Trustees. We can move forward with confidence.

A very grateful farewell to Assistant Director Catriona Combe (left) who, in the two years she was with us, contributed hugely to the Trust and helped to set up and run the Training Fund. We wish her luck and warmly welcome her successor, Melanie Brooks (right).

Tina Carr, Director

Issue 8, March 2001

• They Must Have Heard us After All...
• From the Chairman
• New Venue for the Rory Peck Awards 2001
• Calling Asian Freelancers
• The Rory Peck Training Fund
• Insurance - Research Project
• Mo Shaffi

• Issue 13
• Issue 12
• Issue 11
• Issue 10
• Issue 9
• Issue 8
• Issue 7
• Issue 6
• Issue 5
• Issue 4
• Issue 3
• Issue 2
• Issue 1

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