Reporters Without Borders
Montpellier, France, 1985. Four men stood together to create an organization that would eventually challenge governments across the globe. Robert Ménard, Rémy Loury, Jacques Molénat and Émilien Jubineau established Reporters Without Borders in a small French city. They registered it as a non-profit organization ten years later in 1995. Ménard served as the first secretary general before passing leadership duties to others over time. Christophe Deloire took charge in 2012 and held the position until his death in June 2024. Thibaut Bruttin assumed the role of secretary-general in November 2024. The organization grew from a local initiative into a global force with offices spanning multiple continents.
Paris serves as the headquarters for this international non-governmental organization. As of 2018, thirteen regional and national offices operated across the world including Brussels, London, Washington, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Taipei and Dakar. A network of one hundred forty-six correspondents supported fifty-seven salaried staff members based both in Paris and internationally. An International Council oversees activities while approving budgets annually. A board of governors elected from RSF's members approves organizational policies since 2016. In August 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation declared RSF an undesirable organization within Russia. This decision effectively banned operations inside that country despite their extensive global reach.
The annual World Press Freedom Index measures media freedom conditions in one hundred eighty countries each year. RSF publishes this round-up to track the state of information access globally. The ranking system influences policy decisions at government levels and international forums. It provides daily briefings and press releases on threats facing media freedom in seven languages: French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Persian and Chinese. These reports help identify regions where journalists face the greatest dangers. The methodology allows governments and organizations to compare conditions across different nations systematically.
Operation Collateral Freedom launched in 2014 to provide alternative access to censored websites through mirror sites. Twenty-two sites have been unblocked in twelve countries including Iran, China, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. RSF offers grants to journalists at risk and supports media workers needing refuge or protection. During 2017, the group opened a center for women journalists in Afghanistan. They turned off Eiffel Tower lights in tribute to murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Kashoggi. In July 2018, RSF sent a mission to Saudi Arabia calling for release of thirty detained journalists. On the 22nd of December 2023, RSF filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court regarding killing of seven Palestinian journalists including Samer Abu Daqqa. March 2025 marked priority campaigns releasing four journalists named by RWB as Frenchie Mae Cumpio of Philippines, Sandra Muhoza of Burundi, Sevinj Vagifgizi of Azerbaijan and Phạm Đoan Trang of Vietnam.
The organization publishes a gallery highlighting most egregious international violators of press freedom every few years. This list names state and non-state actors responsible for severe violations against journalists. On the 12th of March 2020, RSF unveiled twenty Digital Predators of Press Freedom during World Day Against Cyber Censorship. The sixth year of Operation Collateral Freedom unblocked access to total twenty-one websites that same month. These lists serve as public shaming tools targeting governments and entities suppressing information flow. Critics argue such naming strategies provoke retaliation while supporters claim they raise awareness about abuses. The strategy remains controversial among diplomatic circles yet continues to be used annually.
RSF received multiple international awards honoring achievements in defending human rights and democracy. In 1992, the European Commission awarded the Lorenzo Natali Prize. The group shared Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought with Nigerian lawyer Hauwa Ibrahim and Cuba's Ladies in White movement in 2005. Other accolades include Journalism and Democracy Prize from OSCE Parliament Assembly in 1997. Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award came from Taiwan Foundation for Democracy in 2006. Kahlil Gibran Award for Institutional Excellence arrived from Arab American Institute Foundation in 2008. Roland Berger Human Dignity Award was shared with Shirin Ebadi in 2009. Dan David Prize recognized efforts alongside Michael Ignatieff in 2019. RSF maintains consultative status at United Nations, UNESCO, Council of Europe and International Organisation of Francophonie.
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Common questions
Who founded Reporters Without Borders and when was it established?
Robert Ménard, Rémy Loury, Jacques Molénat and Émilien Jubineau established Reporters Without Borders in Montpellier, France, in 1985. The organization registered as a non-profit entity ten years later in 1995.
Where is the headquarters of Reporters Without Borders located?
Paris serves as the headquarters for this international non-governmental organization. As of 2018, thirteen regional and national offices operated across the world including Brussels, London, Washington, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Taipei and Dakar.
What happened to Reporters Without Borders operations in Russia in August 2025?
In August 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation declared RSF an undesirable organization within Russia. This decision effectively banned operations inside that country despite their extensive global reach.
When did Christophe Deloire serve as secretary general of Reporters Without Borders?
Christophe Deloire took charge in 2012 and held the position until his death in June 2024. Thibaut Bruttin assumed the role of secretary-general in November 2024.
Which countries received unblocked websites through Operation Collateral Freedom by December 2023?
Twenty-two sites have been unblocked in twelve countries including Iran, China, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam during Operation Collateral Freedom launched in 2014. On the 22nd of December 2023, RSF filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court regarding killing of seven Palestinian journalists including Samer Abu Daqqa.