Reporters Without Borders

Organization

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. Ménard was RSF's first secretary general, succeeded by . Christophe Deloire was appointed secretary-general in 2012, and remained so until his death in June 2024. Thibaut Bruttin is the current secretary-general, appointed in November 2024.

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. As of 2016, a board of governors, elected from RSF's members, approves the organisation's policies, while an International Council has oversight of its activities and approves the budget.

In August 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation declared RSF an "undesirable organization" in Russia, effectively banning operations within the country.

Initiatives

2025 World Press Freedom Index ]]

World Press Freedom Index

Main article: World Press Freedom Index

Journalism Trust Initiative

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). The indicators focus on transparency, good governance and accountability, and are based on the NewsGuard rating system. 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. As of November 2025, 2,000 media organizations worldwide have registered with JTI.

Actions

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.

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.

In July 2018, RSF sent a mission to Saudi Arabia to call for the release of 30 journalists. The organisation publishes a gallery of Predators of Press Freedom, highlighting the most egregious international violators of press freedom. It also has maintained an online Press Freedom Barometer, monitoring the number of journalists, media workers and citizen journalists killed or imprisoned. 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. 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.

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.[[File:Can Dündar prix RSF Strasbourg 17 novembre 2015.jpg|thumb|[[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.

In March 2025 the release of four journalists were named by RWB as one of that year's priority campaign. They were Frenchie Mae Cumpio of the Philippines, Sandra Muhoza of Burundi, Sevinj Vagifgizi of Azerbaijan and Phạm Đoan Trang of Vietnam.

Prizes

Press Freedom Prize

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. TV5Monde and Le Monde have previously been partners in the prize.[[File:Tunisia24.jpg|thumb|RWB 2011 Netizen Prize]]In 2018, RSF launched new categories for the Press Freedom Prize: courage, independence and impact.

Winners:

• 1992 Zlatko Dizdarevic, Bosnia-Herzegovina
• 1993 Wang Juntao, China
• 1994 André Sibomana, Rwanda
• 1995 Christina Anyanwu, Nigeria
• 1996 Isik Yurtçu, Turkey
• 1997 Raúl Rivero, Cuba
• 1998 Nizar Nayyouf, Syria
• 1999 San San Nweh, Burma
• 2000 , Spain
• 2001 Reza Alijani, Iran
• 2002 Grigory Pasko, Russia
• 2003 Ali Lmrabet, Morocco; The Daily News, Zimbabwe; Michèle Montas, Haiti
• 2004 Hafnaoui Ghoul, Algeria; Zeta, Mexico; Liu Xiaobo, China
• 2005 Zhao Yan, China; Tolo TV, Afghanistan; National Union of Somalian Journalists, Somalia; Massoud Hamid, Syria
• 2006 Win Tin, Burma; Novaya Gazeta, Russia; Guillermo Fariñas Hernández, Cuba
• 2007 Seyoum Tsehaye, Eritrea; Democratic Voice of Burma, Burma; Kareem Amer, Egypt; Hu Jia, Zeng Jinyan, China
• 2008 Ricardo Gonzales Alfonso, Cuba; Radio Free NK, North Korea; Zarganar and Nay Phone Latt, Burma
• 2009 Amira Hass, Israel; Dosh, Chechnya
• 2010 , Iran; Radio Shabelle, Somalia
• 2011 Ali Ferzat, Syria; Weekly Eleven News, Burma
• 2012 Mazen Darwish, Syria; 8Sobh, Afghanistan
• 2013 , Uzbekistan; Uthayan, Sri Lanka
• 2014 Sanjuana Martínez, Mexico; FrontPage Africa, Liberia; Raif Badawi, Saudi Arabia
• 2015 Zeina Erhaim, Syria; Zone9, Ethiopia; Cumhuriyet, Turkey
• 2016 Hadi Abdullah, Syria; 64Tianwang, China; Lu Yuyu and Li Tingyu, China
• 2017 Tomasz Piątek, Poland; , Turkey; Soheil Arabi, Iran
• 2018 Swati Chaturvedi, India; Matthew Caruana Galizia, Malta; Inday Espina-Varona; Philippines; Carole Cadwalladr, United Kingdom
• 2019 Eman al Nafjan, Saudi Arabia; Pham Doan Trang, Vietnam; Caroline Muscat, Malta
• 2020 Lina Attalah, Egypt; Elena Milashina, Belarus; Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong
• 2021 Zhang Zhan, China; Pegasus Project of the network Forbidden Stories, France; Majdoleen Hassona, Palestine 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.

''Press freedom predator list''

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

Publications

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. The organization says it raised nearly a quarter of its funds in 2018 from book sales.

Annual reports

RSF issues a report annually. RSF said that 110 journalists were killed in the course of their work in 2015. 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. RSF's 2018 report stated that over 80 journalists were killed, 348 were currently imprisoned, and another 60 were being held hostage.

Recognitions

RSF has received multiple international awards honouring its achievements:

• 1992: received the "Lorenzo Natali Prize" from the European Commission for defending human rights and democracy.
• 1997: received the "Journalism and Democracy Prize" from the Parliament Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
• 1999: received the prize "Archivio Disarmo - " from .
• 2005: shared the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for "Freedom of Thought" with Nigerian human rights lawyer Hauwa Ibrahim and Cuba's Ladies in White movement.
• 2006: received the "Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award" from Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.
• 2007: received the "" from the Swedish Publicists' Association.
• 2008: received the "Kahlil Gibran Award for Institutional Excellence" from the Arab American Institute Foundation.
• 2009: shared the "Roland Berger Human Dignity Award" with Iranian human rights lawyer and Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi.
• 2009: received the "" for European Media.
• 2012: received the "Club Internacional de Prensa" Award, in Madrid.
• 2013: received the "Freedom of Speech Award" from the International Association of Press Clubs, in Warsaw.
• 2014: City of Bonn's 2014 DemokratiePreis.
• 2019: Dan David Prize, Defending Democracy, jointly with Michael Ignatieff.
• 2024: Foundation Day Honorary Award, Hasselt University (Belgium)

References

References

1. RSF Annual Report 2018, p5
2. (22 January 2016). "Presentation, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), for freedom of information".
3. France-Presse, Agence. (2016-04-20). "'Era of propaganda': press freedom in decline, says Reporters Without Borders". The Guardian.
4. RSF Annual Report 2018, pp14-16
5. (21 May 2012). "Christophe Deloire, director general of Reporters Without Borders, died on Saturday, 8 June at the age of 53".
6. (25 November 2024). "Thibaut Bruttin appointed secretary-general by Reporters Without Borders' International Council".
7. RSF Annual Report 2018, p. 10
8. (26 July 2016). "Administration Board".
9. (26 July 2016). "International Council".
10. (2025-08-14). "«Репортеров без границ» и «Группу 36» признали «нежелательными организациями» в России". [[OVD-Info]].
11. (2025). "2025 World Press Freedom Index". Reporters Without Borders.
12. (2 March 2020). "RSF and partners launch a public consultation on the Journalism Trust Initiative".
13. (23 August 2023). "Colorado Public Radio First U.S. Media to Obtain Journalism Trust Initiative Certification from Alliance for Audited Media".
14. (18 May 2021). "Ethical audits: a powerful tool for enhanced transparency and good governance".
15. (November 5, 2023). "RSF With NewsGuard to launch Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) Emergency Protocol to Support Ukraine’s Quality News Media".
16. Watson, Lauren. (2 January 2025). "What We're Watching in 2025".
17. (November 3, 2025). "Two thousand media outlets register with the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) worldwide, cementing the first international standard for transparent journalism".
18. "Declaration of Rights and Obligations of Journalists".
19. (2018-11-02). "Eiffel Tower goes dark in memory of murdered journalists - Extra.ie".
20. (6 March 2017). "RSF opens first center for the protection of Afghan women journalists".
21. (29 May 2017). "Turkey's imprisoned journalists pin hopes on European Court".
22. (November 2018). "RSF blacks out Eiffel Tower for slain journalists, a month after Khashoggi death".
23. (10 July 2019). "Media watchdog visits Saudi Arabia to free journalists".
24. "Predators gallery".
25. Reporter, Staff. (2022-08-21). "Media freedom in peril in India, says Satheesan". The Hindu.
26. (2022-01-13). "Hungary Paid Dennis Prager $30,000 for an Hour of Appearances at Far-Right 'Education' Conference".
27. "India: Tax raids expose government's media intimidation – DW – 07/27/2021".
28. "Barometer".
29. (2018-05-03). "Freedom of Expression in Pakistan Continues to Face Challenges".
30. (11 March 2019). "#CollateralFreedom: RSF unblocks 22 sites censored in their own country".
31. (2015-03-12). "Access to blocked sites restored by Reporters Without Borders". BBC News.
32. (2023-02-16). "How Putin's war has changed journalism in exile".
33. (17 February 2016). "2020 World Day Against Cyber-Censorship : RSF compiles Digital Predator list, unblocks more censored websites".
34. Beaumont, Peter. (2020-03-12). "List of world's worst 'digital predators' stretches from India and Brazil to US". The Guardian.
35. (21 April 2020). "Coronavirus pandemic 'amplifies press freedom threats'".
36. (2025-06-19). "RSF condemns rise in attacks on UK-based Iranian journalists and their families in Iran {{!}} RSF".
37. (2024-04-17). ""Watch out because we're coming for you": An RSF report on unprecedented transnational repression of Iranian journalists in the UK {{!}} RSF".
38. (22 December 2023). "RSF files second war crimes complaint with ICC over Gaza journalists killed". Al Jazeera.
39. (2025-03-09). "RSF kêu gọi trả tự do cho Phạm Đoan Trang & ba nhà báo khác trong chiến dịch 2025".
40. Mioli, Teresa. (2017-10-27). "Colombian, Mexican and Salvadoran journalists and media outlets among nominees for RSF-TV5 Press Freedom Prize".
41. (2012-12-20). "Reporters Without Borders Honors Afghan Newspaper, Syrian Journalist". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
42. (26 November 2004). "Hafnaoui Ghoul freed provisionally after being held for six months for libel".
43. (24 October 2006). "N. Korean Defectors Fight Regime with the Radio".
44. (4 December 2009). ""Reporters Without Borders" award "Dosh" magazine from Chechnya".
45. (23 December 2010). "Journalist Abdolreza Tajik, 2010 press freedom prize winner, is freed from prison".
46. (21 September 2018). "US, Uzbekistan – RSF welcomes Muhammad Bekjanov, once the world's longest-detained journalist, to Washington".
47. (2016-11-09). "Chinese Activists Welcome Press Freedom Award to Bloggers, Rights Website".
48. (2019-09-13). "Vietnamese Blogger Wins Press Freedom Award".
49. Ryan, Yasmine. "Dissident blog true to form".
50. (7 July 2021). "Pakistan rejects naming of PM Khan as press freedom 'predator'". www.aljazeera.com.
51. swissinfo.ch, S. W. I.. (2012-05-03). "Press freedom under threat".
52. "Albums Photo".
53. (2015). "One of the most oppressive countries".
54. (15 December 2015). "گزارشگران بدون مرز: ایران رتبه سوم جهان را در زندانی کردن روزنامه نگاران دارد".
55. (2016). "Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2016".
56. (21 April 2016). "Iran Ranked 169th on 2016 World Press Freedom Index".
57. "Iranian journalists sentenced to imprisonment, flogging".
58. (14 December 2018). "RSF's 2018 round-up of deadly attacks and abuses against journalists – figures up in all categories".
59. (2018). "2020 WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX MAP PRESENTATION INDEX DETAILS ANALYSES METHODOLOGY".
60. (14 October 2002). "Previous Natali Prize winners".
61. (23 April 1999). "OSCE journalism prize awarded to Christiane Amanpour".
62. "Golden Doves for Peace".
63. link. (20 June 2020 , European Parliament, 27 June 2006)
64. Huang, Jewel. (26 December 2006). "Reporters Without Borders wins Asia Democracy and Human Rights award".
65. "Reportrar utan gränser har tilldelats det nyinstiftade Dawit Isaak-priset".
66. (20 March 2008). "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".
67. (25 March 2009). "Roland Berger Human Dignity Award goes to Reporters Without Borders and Shirin Ebadi". Reports Without Borders.
68. "Reporter ohne Grenzen".
69. (18 April 2012). "Entrega de los premios del 50º aniversario del Club Internacional de Prensa".
70. [http://en.rsf.org/reporters-without-borders-laureate-04-06-2013,44712.html "Reporters Without Borders, Laureate of the International Association of Press Clubs Award"] {{Webarchive. link. (15 October 2013 , Reporters Without Borders, 4 June 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.)
71. (20 May 2019). "Dan David Prize awarded to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) for its contribution in the field of Defending Democracy.".
72. Abunimah, Ali. (2 June 2019). "Reporters Sans Frontières reçoit le prix du régime assassin de journalistes (The Electronic Intifada)".
73. "Honorary doctorate recipients".