Rory Peck Trust

Rory Peck Trust

Founded	April 24, 1998 (1998-04-24)
Founder	Juliet Crawley Peck
Type	International nongovernmental organization
Focus	Journalist assistance and freedom of expression
Location	London, United Kingdom
Key people	Tina Carr Director
Mission	"The principal objectives of the Trust are to provide practical assistance and support to freelance newsgatherers and their families worldwide, to raise their profile, promote their welfare and safety, and to support their right to report freely and without fear."
Website	www.rorypecktrust.org

The Rory Peck Trust is an international NGO that supports freelance journalists and their families in crisis. Based in London, UK, they exist to provide practical assistance and support to freelance journalists worldwide, to raise their profile, promote their welfare and safety, and to support their right to report freely and without fear.^[1] They also run the annual Rory Peck Awards.^[2]

History

Freelance cameraman Rory Peck was killed in Moscow in 1993.^[3] In 1995 his widow, Juliet, founded the Trust in Rory's memory.^[4] Originally established to run the Rory Peck Awards, the scope of the Trust's work grew, and in 1998 the Freelance Assistance Programme was established, providing emergency grants to freelance journalists in crisis. In 2000, the Rory Peck Training Fund was set up, which provides hostile environment training bursaries to freelancers. The Trust now gives over 100 grants each year to freelancers worldwide.^[5]

Freelance Assistance Programme

The Freelance Assistance Programme is the main charitable arm of the Rory Peck Trust, and provides direct financial and practical support to freelance journalists and their families globally.^[6] The Programme has four main elements:

• Assistance grants providing financial assistance to freelance newsgatherers in crisis, and to those who have been seriously injured or are suffering persecution, exile or imprisonment as a result of their work. They also support the families of those who have lost their lives.^[7]
• Rory Peck Training Bursaries make hostile environment training affordable for freelancers, enabling them to gain the skills and knowledge needed to work in difficult and dangerous environments.^[8]
• Region-specific projects run in collaboration with local and international partners that aim to protect and educate freelancers in ways that are specific to their needs.^[9]
• Ongoing practical advice and information for freelancers and their families, including a series of online resources.^[10]

The Rory Peck Awards

Established in 1995, the Rory Peck Awards "celebrate the skill and achievement of freelance cameramen and camerawomen around the world and demonstrate why they are so important to the newsgathering industry".^[11] There are three main categories:

• The Rory Peck Award for News which honours the work of freelance cameramen and camerawomen in the coverage of a news event where the focus is on the immediacy of the story.
• The Rory Peck Award for Features which honours the work of freelance cameramen and camerawomen in news and current affairs features.
• Sony Impact Award which honours the work of freelance cameramen and camerawomen in news and current affairs that examines humanitarian and social issues.

In addition, each year the Martin Adler Prize is awarded to a freelancer who has made a significant contribution to newsgathering. The aim of the prize is to highlight the dedication and talent of freelancers who work under challenging and difficult circumstances within their won country. The prize is named in honour of Martin Adler, a freelance journalist who was killed in Somalia in 2006.^[12]

References