Safety of Journalists
University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool is one of the top UK universities, member of the prestigious Russell Group of 24 leading UK universities.

Worlds of Journalism

The Worlds of Journalism Study is a cross-national collaborative project assessing the state of journalism in the world through representative surveys with journalists.

In co-operation with UNESCO

UNESCO is the lead UN Agency for promoting freedom of expression and safety of journalists as part of its mandate to “promote the free flow of ideas by word and image”.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

RSF is an international non-profit organisation governed by principles of democratic governance. It defends the right of every human being to have access to free and reliable information. RSF informs about the press freedom situation throughout the world by communicating on abuses committed against journalists and on all forms of censorship. Additionally, it supports multiple initiatives to obtain the unblocking of censored websites, support online media and provide guarantees for freedom of expression, calls on citizens and leaders through direct action on major mobilization campaigns, calls on governments, international organisations and decision-makers to denounce any attack on the freedom of information and insure and train journalists in their physical and digital safety.

Journalists' safety focus:
Digital, Physical, Psychological, Legal, Financial

History

RSF was founded in 1985 in Montpellier by four journalists and recognised as a public interest organisation in France in 1995.

Geographic scope / network

RSF has 134 correspondents around the world, 6 international sections (Germany, Austria, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland), 1 International Headquarters in Paris, and 7 offices (London, Brussels, Tunis, Washington DC, Rio de Janeiro, Dakar, Taipei).

Key actions and/or campaigns

RSF works in the following main subjects, among others:

● Press freedom situation monitoring : RSF communicates every day and in 5 languages, on abuses committed against journalists and on all forms of censorship. The annual RSF World Press Freedom Index measures the state of press freedom in 180 countries.

● Assistance to Journalists and Media: RSF works on Physical Security by offering access to travel medical insurance tailored to the needs of journalists reporting or working outside their home country, loas bulletproof vests and helmets to journalists traveling to theaters of operations or high-risk areas, financial support for journalists in need of an emergency resettlement, legal or medical fees, replacement of equipment etc., training courses in physical, psychological and digital security and others.

● International Initiative on Information & Democracy: It aims at bringing guarantees for the freedom of opinion and expression in the global space of information and communication.

● Collateral Freedom: A project to circumvent Internet censorship by means of a strategy in which ‘mirrors’ or duplicates of the censored websites are created on international servers.

● Digital Security Lab: A forensic service offering analysis of digital attacks on journalists.

Key outputs

World Press Freedom Index

Monitoring of threats to journalism safety

Yes

Types of threats monitored

All violences

Methodology of monitoring

Through a correspondent network in 140 countries

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Reporters Without Borders (RSF)