Reporters Without Borders

Reporters Without Borders, commonly known by its French initials RSF, is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting freedom of the press and freedom of information. Founded in Montpellier, France, in 1985, the organization works on the premise that people must be able to receive and share news across borders, reflecting the principles of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international rights instruments. It combines public advocacy, field assistance, research, legal intervention, journalist protection, and international campaigning. RSF operates both directly and through a worldwide network. Its work includes defending individual journalists who have been imprisoned, threatened, kidnapped, censored, or forced into exile; documenting killings and detentions; training media workers in physical and digital security; supporting journalists and media organizations facing repression; and lobbying governments, courts, multilateral institutions, and technology companies. It publishes statements, country and thematic reports, emergency appeals, and multilingual briefings in languages including French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Persian, and Chinese. The organization also has consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the International Organisation of the Francophonie. One of RSF's best-known activities is the World Press Freedom Index, an annual comparative assessment of the conditions for journalism in 180 countries and territories. The index considers factors such as pluralism, media independence, legislative and institutional safeguards, transparency, safety, and the broader political, economic, sociocultural, and legal environment. It is widely used by journalists, researchers, governments, civil-society groups, and international institutions, although like any comparative index it is an analytical instrument rather than a complete measure of every aspect of media freedom. RSF also runs or supports practical initiatives. Operation Collateral Freedom creates mirror sites and alternative access routes for news websites blocked by governments. The Journalism Trust Initiative, launched in 2018 with partners including the European Broadcasting Union, Agence France-Presse, and the Global Editors Network, promotes transparency, accountability, and responsible editorial processes through voluntary standards. RSF maintains monitoring tools such as its Press Freedom Barometer and publishes a recurring list of press-freedom predators. It provides grants and relocation or protection assistance to journalists at risk and has undertaken missions to countries where journalists are detained or attacked. The organization raises public awareness through protests, visual campaigns, books, awards, and partnerships. Its annual Press Freedom Prize recognizes journalists and media actors who demonstrate courage, independence, or impact under pressure. Its advocacy publishing includes the photography collection 100 Photos for Press Freedom, which also serves as a fundraising vehicle. RSF has received a range of international human-rights and media-freedom distinctions, including the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize, shared in 2005. RSF was registered as a non-profit organization in 1995. Its Paris headquarters is supported by regional and national offices and an international correspondent network. Robert Ménard served as its first secretary-general, followed by Jean-François Julliard and Christophe Deloire. Deloire led the organization from 2012 until his death in June 2024; Thibaut Bruttin was appointed secretary-general in November 2024. In August 2025, Russian authorities designated RSF an undesirable organization, effectively prohibiting its operations in Russia. The organization remains active internationally, focusing on journalist safety, independent media, digital censorship, impunity for attacks, and the defense of access to trustworthy information.

Reporters Without Borders was established in Montpellier, France, in 1985 by Robert Ménard, Rémy Loury, Jacques Molénat, and Émilien Jubineau. Its early purpose was to defend journalists and independent reporting in places where governments, armed groups, or other powerful actors attempted to suppress information. Robert Ménard served as the organization's first secretary-general. During its development, RSF grew from a French initiative into an international network combining public campaigning with direct assistance to journalists facing imprisonment, violence, censorship, or exile. The organization was formally registered as a non-profit in 1995. It expanded its institutional relationships and obtained consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the International Organisation of the Francophonie. This allowed RSF to present cases and policy proposals in international forums while continuing to use public pressure, media attention, country missions, and emergency appeals. Its work has consistently treated access to information as a human-rights issue rather than solely as a professional concern of journalists. RSF developed several recurring forms of documentation. It records journalists, media workers, and citizen journalists killed in connection with their work; tracks imprisonment and hostage-taking; publishes country and thematic reports; and produces the annual World Press Freedom Index covering 180 countries and territories. The index assesses the political, legal, economic, sociocultural, and safety conditions under which journalism takes place. RSF also created a Press Freedom Barometer and periodically publishes a list of press-freedom predators to identify governments, political leaders, armed groups, and other actors it considers especially threatening to independent journalism. In addition to reporting, RSF has built practical protection and anti-censorship programs. It provides financial assistance, training in digital and physical security, and support for journalists seeking refuge or relocation. Operation Collateral Freedom, launched in 2014, uses mirror sites to help audiences reach news websites blocked by governments. The program has been used in countries including Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. In 2017, RSF reported activities that included opening a center for women journalists in Afghanistan, training journalists and bloggers in Syria, protesting the detention of Turkish journalists, and honoring murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi through a public action in Paris. In 2018, it sent a mission to Saudi Arabia calling for the release of detained journalists. RSF has also sought to address the credibility and accountability of journalism itself. In 2018 it launched the Journalism Trust Initiative with the European Broadcasting Union, Agence France-Presse, and the Global Editors Network. Rather than judging the political viewpoint or individual content of a news outlet, the initiative establishes indicators related to transparency, editorial processes, governance, and accountability. Its standards have subsequently been discussed in connection with policy development in Europe and Canada. Awards and public-facing fundraising have become another part of RSF's identity. The Press Freedom Prize, created in 1992, recognizes journalists and media organizations that have demonstrated courage, independence, or impact under pressure. A Netizen Prize was introduced in 2010 with Google to honor online investigators, bloggers, and cyber-dissidents. RSF also publishes the 100 Photos for Press Freedom collection, using photography to raise awareness and generate funds. In 2023 it introduced the Lucas Dolega-SAIF Photo Prize, and in 2024 it introduced the Mohamed Maïga Prize for African Investigative Journalism. Leadership passed from Ménard to Jean-François Julliard and then to Christophe Deloire, who became secretary-general in 2012. Deloire led the organization until his death in June 2024. Thibaut Bruttin was appointed secretary-general in November 2024. By this period RSF had a Paris headquarters, a network of regional and national offices, and correspondents working across multiple regions. Its agenda continued to include journalist safety, impunity for attacks, digital censorship, media pluralism, disinformation-related transparency, and the defense of public access to independent information. In August 2025, Russian authorities designated RSF an undesirable organization, restricting its ability to operate in Russia. RSF nevertheless remains an active international press-freedom organization.

• 2024

  Leadership transition after Christophe Deloire's death

  [1]Reporters Without Bordersen.wikipedia.org

  Christophe Deloire died in June, and Thibaut Bruttin became secretary-general in November.

• 2023

  ICC complaint concerning Palestinian journalists

  [1]Reporters Without Bordersen.wikipedia.org

  RSF filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court regarding the killing of seven Palestinian journalists.

• 2018

  Journalism Trust Initiative launched

  [1]Reporters Without Bordersen.wikipedia.org

  RSF and partner organizations introduced standards focused on transparency, accountability, and trustworthy editorial processes.

• 2014

  Operation Collateral Freedom launched

  [1]Reporters Without Bordersen.wikipedia.org

  RSF began creating mirror sites and alternative access routes for news websites blocked by governments.

• 2010

  Netizen Prize introduced

  [1]Reporters Without Bordersen.wikipedia.org

  RSF introduced an award recognizing online reporters, bloggers, and digital activists who advance freedom of information.

• 1995

  Registered as a non-profit organization

  [1]Reporters Without Bordersen.wikipedia.org

  RSF was formally registered as a non-profit organization in France.

• 1992

  Press Freedom Prize established

  [1]Reporters Without Bordersen.wikipedia.org

  RSF created its annual prize honoring journalists and media actors who defend independent journalism under threat.

• 1985

  Organization founded in Montpellier

  [1]Reporters Without Bordersen.wikipedia.org

  Robert Ménard, Rémy Loury, Jacques Molénat, and Émilien Jubineau founded Reporters Without Borders in Montpellier, France.

A global press-freedom and journalist-protection NGO combining field assistance, public advocacy, research, legal action, and international policy work.

• Research index

  World Press Freedom Index

  RSF's annual comparative index evaluates the conditions for journalism in 180 countries and territories. Its methodology considers media pluralism, independence, legal and institutional safeguards, transparency, safety, and the political, economic, sociocultural, and legal environment. The index is used as an advocacy and research reference by international institutions, governments, journalists, and civil-society organizations.

• Media standards initiative · 2018

  Journalism Trust Initiative

  Launched in 2018 with international media and journalism partners, the Journalism Trust Initiative establishes indicators for editorial transparency, accountability, governance, and responsible production processes. It evaluates how journalism is made rather than rating the political correctness of particular articles or outlets.

• Anti-censorship service · 2014

  Operation Collateral Freedom

  This program helps audiences reach censored news websites through mirror sites and alternative access arrangements. It was launched in 2014 and has been used to support access to blocked websites in countries including Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam.

• Award · 1992

  Press Freedom Prize

  Created in 1992, the annual prize recognizes journalists and media organizations that have shown courage, independence, or impact while confronting censorship, imprisonment, violence, or other abuses of power. RSF added distinct categories for courage, independence, and impact in 2018 and later expanded the program to include photography and African investigative journalism.

• Fundraising publication

  100 Photos for Press Freedom

  RSF's photography book series uses influential images to draw public attention to press-freedom issues and raise funds for the organization's work. The series forms part of RSF's public education and fundraising model.

• 2025Priority campaign for four imprisoned journalists

  Philippines · Burundi · Azerbaijan · Vietnam

  RSF identified the release of Frenchie Mae Cumpio, Sandra Muhoza, Sevinj Vagifgizi, and Pham Doan Trang as a priority campaign.

  Source
• 2020Digital Predators and Collateral Freedom campaign

  Global

  For World Day Against Cyber Censorship, RSF published a list of digital press-freedom predators and announced further access measures for blocked websites.

  Outcome. The campaign connected public awareness of online repression with a practical anti-censorship intervention.

  Source
• 2018Saudi Arabia journalist-release mission

  Saudi Arabia

  RSF sent a mission to Saudi Arabia to call for the release of 30 journalists.

  Outcome. The mission increased international attention on detained journalists and press restrictions in Saudi Arabia.

  Source
• 2017Support for threatened journalists and women journalists

  Afghanistan · Syria · Turkey · France

  RSF opened a center for women journalists in Afghanistan, trained journalists and bloggers in Syria, protested the detention of Turkish journalists, and organized a public tribute to Jamal Khashoggi.

  Outcome. The activities combined direct assistance, training, and public pressure for journalist safety.

  Source
• 2014Operation Collateral Freedom

  Iran · China · Saudi Arabia · Vietnam

  RSF created mirror sites to provide alternative access to news websites blocked by state censorship.

  Outcome. The program enabled access to multiple censored sites across a number of countries.

  Source

• 2024

  Leadership transition to Thibaut BruttinStrategy

  Background

  The organization required new leadership after Christophe Deloire's death in June 2024.

  Action taken

  RSF appointed Thibaut Bruttin secretary-general in November 2024.

  Aftermath

  Bruttin became the organization's current secretary-general.

  Source

• 2023

  Complaint to the International Criminal Court over journalist killingsOther

  Background

  RSF argued that the killing of seven Palestinian journalists warranted international legal scrutiny.

  Action taken

  The organization filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court, including the case of Samer Abu Daqqa.

  Source

• 2018

  Launch of the Journalism Trust InitiativeProduct launch

  Background

  RSF sought to strengthen public trust in journalism through greater transparency and accountability in editorial processes.

  Action taken

  It launched the initiative with the European Broadcasting Union, Agence France-Presse, and the Global Editors Network.

  Aftermath

  The initiative developed standards later discussed in relation to media-policy frameworks in Europe and Canada.

  Source

1. 1Reporters Without Bordersen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Reporters Without Borders official websitersf.org