"Responsible employers already send their own staff on these courses when they are likely to be placed in harm's way," said Forum president Cliff Lonsdale, "but freelancers are mostly left to fend for themselves. With the news industry relying ever more heavily on freelancers in dangerous situations at home and abroad, there's a significant safety gap that needs to be addressed. The Forum Freelance Fund is a step in that direction."
The principle of collective responsibility for freelance safety, which underpins this initiative, has been formally endorsed by RTDNA Canada - The Association of Electronic Journalists, and by Canadian Journalists for Free Expression. Support has also been expressed by both the International News Safety Institute and by Reporters without Borders Canada.
The Forum Freelance Fund is sponsored by CBC News and supported by Radio-Canada, Canada News Wire and individual donations.
The Forum Freelance Fund classifies Canadian freelancers as journalists with Canadian citizenship or residence and others who work abroad substantially for Canadian media. For details of the Forum Freelance Fund, visit website: http://journalismforum.fims.uwo.ca.
