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Insurance and Freelancers Our message has never changed: insurance for freelance media workers should be accessible, affordable and available worldwide Due to the unpredictable nature of freelance work and the risks involved in reporting from different areas of the world, insurance for freelancers has always been expensive. Many freelancers working on short-term contracts cannot afford one-off policies which always cost much more than an annual insurance policy. However, annual insurance premiums are still beyond the reach of most freelancers and war zone insurance has become prohibitive. Many freelancers still have no insurance at all. Since the Rory Peck Trust was established in 1995, one of its key aims has always been to ensure that freelance media workers never go on assignment without adequate cover. We have talked to insurers about the potential volume and breadth of the freelance market, whilst encouraging broadcasters and editors to take responsibility for their commissioned freelancers. Change is coming. Newsgathering organisations are increasingly aware of their responsibilities towards commissioned freelancers. During the Iraq war, many major broadcasters included insurance provisions in contracts, gave staff and freelancers equal cover and insisted on safety training. Some insurance companies are providing discounted insurance for freelancers who have undergone specialist safety training. However, our work is ongoing. We ask freelancers to:
We ask broadcasters to:
We ask insurers to:
The following insurers are currently known to be sympathetic to the needs of freelancers. You may contact them directly. AKE SPECIAL RISKS LTD Contact: Fraser Newton
MEDIA INSURANCE BROKERS LTD Contact: Richard Moore
REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=4971 Contact: Lucy Morillon
THB CLOWES Contact: Tom Ellis
WEST MIDLANDS BROKERS Contact:
Brian Barnard or Simon Phillips
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