ActionScript 2.0 :: Build A System Where Users (restricted To A Very Few Admins) Can Publish News Articles?

I'm trying to build a system where users (restricted to a very few admins) can publish news articles. The form is simple enough: an input field for "Headline" (single line) an input field for "article" (multiple line) and a file reference field to include a picture.

The idea is that you can EITHER write a headline and some text and then publish | OR | write a headline, some text then choose a picture and publish.No check boxes - no "would you like to include a picture" - just an idiot proof system where you can wither publish text - or text and a picture on the click of ONE button.

The picture is placed (via php) into the file system on the server, the text for headline and article are pumped into an SQL database (via php). I know php well and can do that bit with no probs but I'm having trouble with the function to pump the vars to the php if the user HASN'T chosen to include a picture.

1) has anyone done this before and if so do you have a "boilerplate" fla / php I could copy and paste into my project ?

2) can anyone see any problems in the code (posted below) which would explain why the upload of pictures always works but the sql insert never works ? On the stage are two input fields and two buttons (obvious names in the code are 'head_txt' and 'art_txt' )

CODE:
import flash.net.FileReference;
var progressBar:MovieClip;
var reference:FileReference = new FileReference();

[code]....