The director general of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Christophe Deloire, died on Saturday at the age of 53, announced the organization defending press freedom around the world.
Christophe Deloire, director general of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), died on Saturday at the age of 53, announced the organization defending press freedom around the world. He died “from a devastating cancer”, RSF said in a press release sent to AFP. He had held his position there since 2012 and “transformed the association (…) into a world champion for the defense of journalism, for 12 years”, salutes RSF.
“His contribution to the defense of the fundamental right (to information) has been considerable”
For journalist Pierre Haski, chairman of the board of directors of RSF, “Christophe Deloire led the organization at a crucial moment for the right to information. His contribution to the defense of this fundamental right was considerable.” Christophe Deloire was “a tireless defender, on all continents, of the freedom, independence and pluralism of journalism, in a context of information chaos,” continues RSF. “Journalism was the fight of his life which he led with unshakeable conviction,” continues the NGO.
He was appointed general delegate of the States General of Information at the end of 2023, a campaign promise from Emmanuel Macron. “Pillar of the system, tireless defender of the right to information, Christophe marked the work of the States General of Information from their launch with his commitment, his convictions, his energy, his listening, but also his humanity”, reacted the members of these Estates General in another press release.
Before taking the helm of RSF, Christophe Deloire headed the CFJ, a recognized journalism school, from 2008 to 2012. Previously, he worked for Point from 1998 to 2007, in the society and politics departments as an investigative reporter. Previously, he also worked for the television channels ARTE and TF1.
An NGO present on all continents
Launched in 1985 in France, the NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has become over the decades a spearhead of press freedom and the right to information around the world. The non-governmental organization, whose headquarters is in Paris, is present on all continents: via offices in around ten cities and correspondents in some 130 countries, it detects and denounces obstacles to the freedom of information and comes helping imprisoned or threatened journalists, in various forms (legal assistance, loan of bulletproof vests, scholarships, pressure on States and institutions, etc.).
In particular, she has mobilized extensively in recent years to demand the truth about the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Since 2002, the NGO has published an annual report on abuses committed against journalists in 180 countries. This world ranking of press freedom is a reference for many media and several international institutions.
