The Rory Peck Trust is dedicated to the support, safety and welfare of freelance newsgatherers around the world.
What We Do
Ask anyone who is concerned about freelance journalists working without a safety net, and they’ll invariably mention the Rory Peck Trust.
UNESCO: An Attack on One is an Attack on All, 2017
The Rory Peck Trust provides practical and financial support to freelance journalists and their families worldwide, assisting in times of crisis and helping them to work more safely and professionally. We do this through assistance funds, our training fund, and online resources, as well as our annual Awards, which uniquely celebrate the work of freelance journalists.
We believe that freelancers play an important and integral role within newsgathering and see the Trust’s role in protecting and supporting them as a practical and significant contribution to independent journalism and the free flow of information.
The Rory Peck Trust was set up in 1995 in memory of freelance cameraman Rory Peck, who was killed in Moscow in 1993. The Trust is totally independent and relies on contributions from corporations, trusts, foundations and individuals to carry out its work.
Who We Work With
Based in London, the Trust works globally, with a network of international partners. It is co-founder of the Journalists in Distress (JID) network, a group of 22 like-minded organisations that provide support to journalists whose lives or careers are threatened because of their work. The JID network allows members to coordinate assistance and maximise their impact on a global level.
The Trust sits on the Board of the ACOS Alliance, an unprecedented coalition of news organisations, freelance journalist associations and press freedom NGOs working together to champion safe and responsible journalistic practices for freelance and local journalists.
Though the Trust remains politically independent, it is often called upon to consult on various governmental and intergovernmental initiatives. In 2017, the Trust became a partner of the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists, joining 13 other international NGOs and associations of journalists. This digital tool aims to improve the protection of journalists, allowing the contributing partners to alert European Member States to threats and attacks against journalists in their countries and hold governments to account on issues of impunity.
In 2019, the Trust was asked to curate a Freelancers Hub at the first Global Conference for Media Freedom, hosted by the UK & Canadian governments in London.