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Reporters Without Borders

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Reporters Without Borders (RWB; French: Reporters sans frontières; RSF) is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization headquartered in Paris, which focuses on safeguarding the right to freedom of information. It describes its advocacy as founded on the belief that everyone requires access to the news and information, in line with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that recognises the right to receive and share information regardless of frontiers, along with other international rights charters.[1] RSF has consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the International Organisation of the Francophonie.[2]

Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Sans Frontières
Formation1985
FounderRobert Ménard, Rémy Loury [Wikidata], Jacques Molénat [Wikidata] and Émilien Jubineau [Wikidata]
TypeNonprofit organisation, non-governmental organisation with consultative status at the United Nations
HeadquartersParis, France
Director General
Thibaut Bruttin [Wikidata]
(since November 2024)
Key people
Thibaut Bruttin, Secretary General
Pierre Haski, President RSF France
Mickael Rediske, President RSF Germany
Christian Mihr [Wikidata], CEO RSF Germany
Rubina Möhring [de], President RSF Austria
Alfonso Armada (writer) [es], President RSF Spain
Gérard Tschopp, President RSF Switzerland
Erik Halkjær [sv], President, RSF Sweden
Jarmo Mäkelä [fi], President, RSF Finland
Budget€6 million (RSF France)
StaffApproximately 100
Websitersf.org/en Edit this at Wikidata
Protest action in Paris, April 2008, displaying a 'Reporters Without Borders (RSF)' flag depicting the Olympic rings in the form of handcuffs or padlocks, along with the legend 'Beijing 2008'

RSF works on the ground in defence of individual journalists at risk and at the highest levels of government and international forums to defend the right to freedom of expression and information. It provides daily briefings and press releases on threats to media freedom in French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Persian and Chinese and publishes an annual press freedom round up, the World Press Freedom Index, that measures the state of media freedom in 180 countries.[3] The organisation provides assistance to journalists at risk and training in digital and physical security, as well as campaigning to raise public awareness of abuse against journalists and to secure their safety and liberty. RSF lobbies governments and international bodies to adopt standards and legislation in support of media freedom and takes legal action in defence of journalists under threat.[4][non-primary source needed] In addition, RSF keeps a yearly count of journalists killed on the job.

Organization

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Logo before 2020
 
Head office in Paris

RSF was founded in Montpellier, France, in 1985 by Robert Ménard, Rémy Loury, Jacques Molénat and Émilien Jubineau. It was registered as a non-profit organisation in 1995.[2] Ménard was RSF's first secretary general, succeeded by Jean-François Julliard [fr]. Christophe Deloire was appointed secretary-general in 2012, and remained so until his death in June 2024.[5] Thibaut Bruttin is the current secretary-general, appointed in November 2024.[6]

RSF's head office is based in Paris. As of 2018, it has 13 regional and national offices, including Brussels, London, Washington, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Taipei and Dakar, and a network of 146 correspondents with 57 salaried staff in Paris and internationally.[7] As of 2016, a board of governors, elected from RSF's members, approves the organisation's policies,[8] while an International Council has oversight of its activities and approves the budget.[9]

In 2025, RSF was declared an "undesirable organization" in Russia.[10]

Initiatives

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2025 World Press Freedom Index[11]
  Good
  Satisfactory
  Problematic
  Difficult
  Very serious
  Not classified

World Press Freedom Index

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Main article: World Press Freedom Index
See also: List of sovereign states in Europe by Press Freedom Index and List of freedom indices

Journalism Trust Initiative

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See also: The Trust Project

RSF launched the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) in 2018 with its partners the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Agence France-Presse (AFP) and the Global Editors Network (GEN).[12][13] The indicators focus on transparency, good governance and accountability.[14] JTI distinguishes itself from similar initiatives by focusing on the process of journalism rather than content alone. JTI standards have been used to inform standards for policies in Canada and the European Union.[15]

Actions

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RSF's defence of journalistic freedom includes international missions, the publication of country reports, training of journalists and public protests.

RSF has published the Munich Charter, an authoritative document which clarifies the "Rights and Obligations" of Journalists. The Charter was initially developed by the German Journalist Association and first published in Munich 1971, and is accepted as authoritative within the profession. It was later adopted by most journalists' unions in Europe.[16][non-primary source needed]

During 2017, some global advocacy and practical interventions included: opening a centre for women journalists in Afghanistan, a creative protest with street-artist C215 in Strasbourg for Turkish journalists in detention, turning off the Eiffel Tower lights in tribute to murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Kashoggi and providing training to journalists and bloggers in Syria.[17][18][19][non-primary source needed]

In July 2018, RSF sent a mission to Saudi Arabia to call for the release of 30 journalists.[20] The organisation publishes a gallery of Predators of Press Freedom, highlighting the most egregious international violators of press freedom.[21][22][23][24] It also has maintained an online Press Freedom Barometer, monitoring the number of journalists, media workers and citizen journalists killed or imprisoned.[25][26] Its programme Operation Collateral Freedom, launched in 2014, provides alternative access to censored websites by creating mirror sites: 22 sites have been unblocked in 12 countries, including Iran, China, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.[27][28][29] RSF offers grants to journalists at risk and supports media workers in need of refuge and protection.

To mark World Day Against Cyber Censorship on 12 March 2020, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) unveiled a list of 20 Digital Predators of Press Freedom and announced that it is unblocking access to a total 21 websites in the sixth year of its Operation Collateral Freedom.[30][31]


On 21 April 2020, the RSF based in Paris said that the pandemic had amplified and highlighted many crises and over shadowed freedom of the press. The high representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, stated that the pandemic should not be used to justify the limitation of democratic and civil freedoms and that the rule of law and international commitments should be respected. He said freedom of speech and access to information should not be limited and that measures taken against the pandemic should not be used to restrict human rights advocates, reporters, media staff and institutions of civil societies.[32][33][34]

 
Cumhuriyet's former editor-in-chief Can Dündar receiving the 2015 RSF Prize. Shortly thereafter, he was arrested.

On 22 December 2023, RSF filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court over the killing of seven Palestinian journalists, including Samer Abu Daqqa.[35]

Prizes

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Press Freedom Prize

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RSF's annual Press Freedom Prize, created in 1992, honours courageous and independent journalists who have faced threats or imprisonment for their work and who have challenged the abuse of power.[36] TV5Monde and Le Monde have previously been partners in the prize.[37]

 
RWB 2011 Netizen Prize

In 2018, RSF launched new categories for the Press Freedom Prize: courage, independence and impact.[citation needed]

Winners:

Netizen Prize

A Netizen Prize was introduced in 2010, in partnership with Google, recognising individuals, including bloggers and cyber-dissidents, who have advanced freedom of information online through investigative reporting or other initiatives.[45]

Press freedom predator list

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RSF also lists the world's worst press freedom 'predators' every few years.[46]

Publications

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See also: The Uncensored Library

In addition to its country, regional and thematic reports, RSF publishes a photography book 100 Photos for Press Freedom as a tool for advocacy and a fundraiser.[47] The organization says it raised nearly a quarter of its funds in 2018 from book sales.[48]

Annual reports

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RSF issues a report annually. RSF said that 110 journalists were killed in the course of their work in 2015.[49][50] In 2016, RSF stated that, there were 348 imprisoned journalists and 52 hostages. Nearly two-thirds of imprisoned journalists were in Turkey, China, Syria, Egypt and Iran.[51][52] RSF's 2018 report stated that over 80 journalists were killed, 348 were currently imprisoned, and another 60 were being held hostage.[53][54][55]

Recognitions

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RSF has received multiple international awards honouring its achievements:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ RSF Annual Report 2018, p5
  2. ^ a b c "Presentation, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), for freedom of information". RSF. 22 January 2016. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  3. ^ France-Presse, Agence (20 April 2016). "'Era of propaganda': press freedom in decline, says Reporters Without Borders". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  4. ^ RSF Annual Report 2018, pp14-16
  5. ^ "Christophe Deloire, director general of Reporters Without Borders, died on Saturday, 8 June at the age of 53". RSF. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Thibaut Bruttin appointed secretary-general by Reporters Without Borders' International Council". RSF. 25 November 2024. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  7. ^ RSF Annual Report 2018, p. 10
  8. ^ "Administration Board". RSF. 26 July 2016. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  9. ^ "International Council". RSF. 26 July 2016. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  10. ^ "«Репортеров без границ» и «Группу 36» признали «нежелательными организациями» в России". OVD-Info (in Russian). 14 August 2025. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  11. ^ "2025 World Press Freedom Index". Reporters Without Borders. 2025.
  12. ^ "RSF and partners launch a public consultation on the Journalism Trust Initiative". RSF. 2 March 2020. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Colorado Public Radio First U.S. Media to Obtain Journalism Trust Initiative Certification from Alliance for Audited Media". Colorado Public Radio. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  14. ^ "Ethical audits: a powerful tool for enhanced transparency and good governance". UNESCO. 18 May 2021.
  15. ^ Watson, Lauren (2 January 2025). "What We're Watching in 2025". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Declaration of Rights and Obligations of Journalists". RSF. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  17. ^ "RSF opens first center for the protection of Afghan women journalists". RSF. 6 March 2017. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Turkey's imprisoned journalists pin hopes on European Court". RSF. 29 May 2017. Archived from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  19. ^ "RSF blacks out Eiffel Tower for slain journalists, a month after Khashoggi death". RSF. November 2018. Archived from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Media watchdog visits Saudi Arabia to free journalists". Al Jazeera. 10 July 2019. Archived from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  21. ^ "Predators gallery". RSF. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  22. ^ Reporter, Staff (21 August 2022). "Media freedom in peril in India, says Satheesan". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  23. ^ "Hungary Paid Dennis Prager $30,000 for an Hour of Appearances at Far-Right 'Education' Conference". Southern Poverty Law Center. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  24. ^ "India: Tax raids expose government's media intimidation – DW – 07/27/2021". dw.com. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  25. ^ "Barometer". RSF. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  26. ^ "Freedom of Expression in Pakistan Continues to Face Challenges". Voice of America. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  27. ^ "#CollateralFreedom: RSF unblocks 22 sites censored in their own country". RSF. 11 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  28. ^ "Access to blocked sites restored by Reporters Without Borders". BBC News. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  29. ^ "How Putin's war has changed journalism in exile". Deutsche Welle. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  30. ^ "2020 World Day Against Cyber-Censorship : RSF compiles Digital Predator list, unblocks more censored websites". RSF. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  31. ^ Beaumont, Peter (12 March 2020). "List of world's worst 'digital predators' stretches from India and Brazil to US". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  32. ^ "Coronavirus pandemic 'amplifies press freedom threats'". FRANCE24. 21 April 2020. Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  33. ^ "RSF condemns rise in attacks on UK-based Iranian journalists and their families in Iran | RSF". rsf.org. 19 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  34. ^ ""Watch out because we're coming for you": An RSF report on unprecedented transnational repression of Iranian journalists in the UK | RSF". rsf.org. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  35. ^ "RSF files second war crimes complaint with ICC over Gaza journalists killed". Al Jazeera. 22 December 2023.
  36. ^ Mioli, Teresa (27 October 2017). "Colombian, Mexican and Salvadoran journalists and media outlets among nominees for RSF-TV5 Press Freedom Prize". LatAm Journalism Review by the Knight Center. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  37. ^ "Reporters Without Borders Honors Afghan Newspaper, Syrian Journalist". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  38. ^ "Hafnaoui Ghoul freed provisionally after being held for six months for libel". RSF. 26 November 2004. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  39. ^ "N. Korean Defectors Fight Regime with the Radio". NPR. 24 October 2006. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  40. ^ ""Reporters Without Borders" award "Dosh" magazine from Chechnya". Caucasian Knot. 4 December 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  41. ^ "Journalist Abdolreza Tajik, 2010 press freedom prize winner, is freed from prison". RSF. 23 December 2010. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  42. ^ "US, Uzbekistan – RSF welcomes Muhammad Bekjanov, once the world's longest-detained journalist, to Washington". RSF. 21 September 2018. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  43. ^ "Chinese Activists Welcome Press Freedom Award to Bloggers, Rights Website". Radio Free Asia. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  44. ^ "Vietnamese Blogger Wins Press Freedom Award". Voice of America. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  45. ^ Ryan, Yasmine. "Dissident blog true to form". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  46. ^ "Pakistan rejects naming of PM Khan as press freedom 'predator'". www.aljazeera.com. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  47. ^ swissinfo.ch, S. W. I. (3 May 2012). "Press freedom under threat". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  48. ^ "Albums Photo". RSF. Archived from the original on 9 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  49. ^ "One of the most oppressive countries". rsf.org. 2015. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  50. ^ "گزارشگران بدون مرز: ایران رتبه سوم جهان را در زندانی کردن روزنامه نگاران دارد" [Reporters Without Borders: Iran ranks third in the world in imprisoning journalists]. BBC News فارسی (in Persian). 15 December 2015. Archived from the original on 14 December 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  51. ^ "Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2016". nationsonline.org. 2016. Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  52. ^ "Iran Ranked 169th on 2016 World Press Freedom Index". journalismisnotacrime. 21 April 2016. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  53. ^ "Iranian journalists sentenced to imprisonment, flogging". refworld.org. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  54. ^ "RSF's 2018 round-up of deadly attacks and abuses against journalists – figures up in all categories". rsf.org. 14 December 2018. Archived from the original on 30 May 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  55. ^ "2020 WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX MAP PRESENTATION INDEX DETAILS ANALYSES METHODOLOGY". rsf.org. 2018. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  56. ^ "Previous Natali Prize winners". International Federation of Journalists. 14 October 2002. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  57. ^ "OSCE journalism prize awarded to Christiane Amanpour". OSCE. 23 April 1999. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  58. ^ "Golden Doves for Peace". www.archiviodisarmo.it. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  59. ^ "Ladies, Ibrahim and Reporters joint Sakharov prize winners" Archived 20 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine, European Parliament, 27 June 2006
  60. ^ Huang, Jewel (26 December 2006). "Reporters Without Borders wins Asia Democracy and Human Rights award". Taipei Times. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  61. ^ "Reportrar utan gränser har tilldelats det nyinstiftade Dawit Isaak-priset" [Reporters Without Borders has been awarded the newly instituted Dawit Isaak Prize]. Journalisten (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  62. ^ "Tenth Annual Kahlil Gibran "Spirit of Humanity" Awards Gala to Honor Refugees International, Reporters Without Borders for Commitment to Advocacy, U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood of Illinois, Barenboim-Said Foundation". Arab America. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  63. ^ "Roland Berger Human Dignity Award goes to Reporters Without Borders and Shirin Ebadi". Reports Without Borders. 25 March 2009. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  64. ^ "Reporter ohne Grenzen" [Reporters Without Borders]. Medaille Charlemagne (in German). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  65. ^ "Entrega de los premios del 50º aniversario del Club Internacional de Prensa" [Awards ceremony for the 50th anniversary of the International Press Club]. Casa real (in Spanish). 18 April 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  66. ^ "Reporters Without Borders, Laureate of the International Association of Press Clubs Award" Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Reporters Without Borders, 4 June 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  67. ^ "Dan David Prize awarded to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) for its contribution in the field of Defending Democracy". RSF. 20 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  68. ^ Abunimah, Ali (2 June 2019). "Reporters Sans Frontières reçoit le prix du régime assassin de journalistes (The Electronic Intifada)" [Reporters Without Borders receives the prize for the murderous regime of journalists (The Electronic Intifada)]. Le Grand Soir. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  69. ^ "Honorary doctorate recipients". UHasselt. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
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