Reporters Without Borders USA

Reporters Without Borders (abbreviated with its French acronym, RSF) is a global press freedom organization, headquartered in Paris, that provides safety resources to journalists working in dangerous conditions. It also conducts research to track the state of press freedom in countries around the world. In April, RSF launched the JX Fund for journalists in exile, focused initially on independent journalists who have had to flee Russia and Belarus. The JX Fund enables contextual, culturally competent, accurate independent reporting from Russian journalism outlets to continue to reach the Russian people through creative means. While currently focused on Russia and Belarus, the JX Fund establishes a model that can be used to support journalists in exile from other countries. The intended outcomes of these activities are that Russian and Belarussian media outlets can keep reporting and reaching audiences with trustworthy information, even after their exile.

Reporters Without Borders USA is the North American chapter of Reporters Sans Frontières, a global press freedom organization based in Paris, France. Reporters Without Borders USA works to promote and defend press freedom in the United States, Canada, and the English-speaking Caribbean. Its activities include monitoring press freedom violations, advocating for policies that uphold the First Amendment, educating the public about press freedom challenges, and addressing the spread of disinformation. This grant provides general operating support. The intended outcomes include government actions that support a free and independent press, improved safety for journalists and reduced impunity for crimes committed against them, and solutions for reducing the spread of disinformation.

Reporters Without Borders is an international organization that monitors and reports on press freedom violations, advocates for policies and practices that defend the safety of journalists, and prepares, protects, and when necessary, extracts journalists working in dangerous situations. This grant provides general operating support for the U.S. chapter, which is one of thirteen regional offices of Reporters Without Borders. The U.S. chapter was founded in 2004 to support detained American journalists and their families, to advocate for stronger policies and protections for the press within the United Nations and Congress, and to bring greater attention to press freedom issues among the media and general public. It is also responsible for monitoring press freedom violations in Canada and the English-speaking Caribbean. General support enables Reporters Without Borders to maintain a strong presence in North America with flexibility to respond to urgent situations and conduct robust monitoring and advocacy activities.

Reporters Without Borders was established in Paris, France in 1985 to promote and defend press freedom worldwide. It maintains 11 international offices and is known for its annual World Press Freedom Index and its advocacy on behalf of journalists facing emergency or hostage situations. The USA/North America chapter was formed in 2004, and has been an effective and complementary partner to American press freedom organizations, particularly in addressing the safety concerns of American journalists working abroad. General operating support for Reporters Without Borders USA enables this small but highly regarded staff to respond to the challenges facing press freedom in the United States as well as to assist and advocate for the release of detained American journalists in other parts of the world.