By way of introduction

Adam Christie

I am Adam Christie. I’m based in Leeds. I hate self-promotion, standing for elections and networking" - and I feel embarrassed about doing something such as this. Having been "elected" to the FIC unopposed, writing what feels like an election address after the event seems daft.

I have been freelance for most of my professional life, most recently working shifts as a sub at the Yorkshire Post and at the BBC in Leeds. I also try to sell individual pieces to commissioning editors in advance and I file stories to news or feature desks "on spec". I also do some "new media" work.

I want my time on the FIC to be useful and communication to be "two-way": I would like to hear about the issues, questions and problems facing freelances in Yorkshire and I intend to tell you what is happening on the FIC.

Representation is "geographical" - but so far there is no formal way of knowing which areas of freelance activity are covered. I think a couple of members are photographers, but that’s it. Issues are probably as specific to activities as to geography - and I hope I can reflect this.

Meeting the needs of freelance members must be the principal objective of the NUJ’s Freelance Industrial Council - especially when more and more journalists are either choosing or being forced into "independence".

But what are those needs? Pay rates - for stories, images and shifts - are important. Copyright remains contentious.

By keeping my eyes and ears open, I have some idea of the questions members ask and the problems they face - but every telephone call or e-mail message can help. If you - we - have successes too, I hope I can tell others, elsewhere, what was done and how, so that they can try to repeat the triumphs.

Do please read the agendas and reports that I will try to circulate by e-mail and tell me your views. I can’t promise to win every FIC vote; I can speak and argue on your behalf - but only if I know what you are thinking and what you want.

Finally, cross my palm with a rail ticket and I’ll come and talk to a branch or freelance meeting, telling you directly what we are, and are not doing, and possibly why too, when or if, I find out ....