REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS freedom of information
background
its mission
Freedom of expression and of information will always be the world’s most important freedom. If journalists were not free to report the facts, denounce abuses and alert the public, how would we resist the problem of child soldiers, defend women’s rights, or preserve our environment? In some countries, torturers stop their atrocious deeds as soon as they are mentioned in the media. In others, corrupt politicians abandon their illegal habits when investigative journalists publish compromising details about their activities. Still elsewhere, massacres are prevented when the international media focuses its attention and cameras on events.
Reporters Without Borders was founded in Montpellier in 1985 by four journalists : Robert Ménard, Rémy Loury, Jacques Molénat and Émilien Jubineau. This association, registered as a non-profit organisation in France since 1995, soon took on an international dimension.
To continuously monitor attacks on freedom of information worldwide;
Freedom of information is the foundation of any democracy. Yet almost half of the world’s population is still denied it.
“PROMOTING AND DEFENDING INFORMATION FREEDOM THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE.”
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Reporters Without Borders organises its team of researchers by geographical area. The organisation also gradually developed two essential and highly specialised spheres of activity : one focused on Internet Censorship and the New Media, and the other devoted to providing material, financial and psychological assistance to journalists assigned to dangerous areas.
To denounce any such attacks in the media; To act in cooperation with governments to fight censorship and laws aimed at restricting freedom of information; To morally and financially assist persecuted journalists, as well as their families. To offer material assistance to war correspondents in order to enhance their safety.
reporters without borders : key figures Correspondents in 150 countries Annual budget of 500,000 euros in assistance funds 2010 budget : 4.3 million euros Over 1,000 press releases issued yearly on violations of freedom of information 3 photo albums published per year, averaging annual sales of 150,000 copies Its website, rsf.org, registers 200,000 unique visitors and 500,000 page views monthly.
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