Scottish snappers strike deal

A NEW agreement will give Business a.m. access to Scotland's top photographic talent by giving photographers a fair deal. The new deal protects the copyright of freelance photographers working for the paper and guarantees reproduction fees for their work other than "headshots" - photographs showing the subject's head, reproduced across a single newspaper column. Excluding "headshots" from this arrangement with significantly help Business a.m. to fix its editorial costs.

The agreement comes after five months of talks between Business a.m. - which is owned by the Swedish Bonnier group - the NUJ and the photographers.

Tim Dawson, chair of the NUJ's Freelance Industrial Council, who led the negotiations on behalf of the photographers, said:

"I applaud the management of Business a.m. for recognising that a compromise was possible that would benefit the paper and photographers. This deal is very important for freelance photographers, not just in Scotland, but around the UK. It shows that when freelances come together, discuss what they want and take their concerns to publishers, it is possible to reach agreements that benefit both sides. The NUJ will be working to apply the lessons of this case around the country.

for more information contact Tim Dawson