Freelance journalists are being relied upon more and more, it is imperative that they have the resources and training to protect themselves, as well as to help them get the story.

Following our event in New York with the Overseas Press Club of America (OPC), they will be coming to London to continue the discussion.

We will be bringing together a panel of freelance journalists and editors to examine what more needs to be done to make sure freelancers are supported by the news industry and have the resources available to prepare themselves for the risks of front-line reporting.

Chaired by Vaughan Smith, founder of the Frontline Club, an award-winning independent cameraman and a member of the board of representatives for the Frontline Freelance Register (FFR).

The panel:

David Williams is deputy global news editor at Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Marcus Mabry, editor at large of The New York Times and president of the Overseas Press Club of America (OPC). Previously he worked for the The New York Times and International Herald Tribune in in London and Paris, and was the associate national editor.

Ben De Pear is the editor of Channel 4 News and a member of the board of trustees for Rory Peck Trust.

Emma Beals is an independent multimedia journalist covering Syria and Iraq. She is a member of the board of representatives for the Frontline Freelance Register (FFR).

This event will take place at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs Building, 420 West 118th Street #1, room 1302, New York.

We are delighted to be teaming up with the Overseas Press Club of America (OPC) for two events on freelance safety. The first will be held at Club Quarters in New York and the second in November at the Frontline Club in London.

The brutal murders of James Foley and Steven Sotloff have again brought to the fore the dangers that front line journalists face. With freelancers being relied upon more and more, it is imperative that they have the resources and training to protect themselves as well as to help them get the story.

A panel of experts in the safety field will discuss what is available now, what more needs to be done and what responsibility news organisations have to the freelancers they employ.

The event is free, if you are in New York and able to attend please RSVP to patricia@opcofamerica.org.

The panel:

Bruce Shapiro, executive director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma.

Sawyer Alberi, chief trainer for RISC (Reporters Instructed in Saving Colleagues).

Judith Matloff, a veteran foreign correspondent who teaches a safety training course at the Columbia University School of Journalism.

Vaughan Smith, founder of London’s Frontline Club, award-winning independent cameraman and member of the board of representatives for the Frontline Freelance Register (FFR).

Micah Garen, an independent documentary filmmaker and multimedia journalist and founder of Four Corners Media who has worked in conflict and post-conflict zones around the world including Iraq, Afghanistan and Egypt. Garen was kidnapped in southern Iraq and held for 10 days in 2004 while filming a documentary about the looting of archaeological sites.