RSF Sharpens Focus on Right to Information and Fight Against Propaganda

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reaffirmed its strategic commitment to defending the right to reliable information and combating the growing influence of state-sponsored propaganda. As global press freedom deteriorates, RSF is intensifying efforts to protect independent journalism and expose disinformation campaigns, which it warns are eroding democracy worldwide.

At the core of RSF’s strategy is the belief that access to trustworthy, pluralistic information is a fundamental right. The organization has observed that authoritarian regimes and powerful private actors are increasingly manipulating public discourse through propaganda, censorship, and information warfare. To counter this, RSF is expanding its multi-pronged approach through monitoring, advocacy, and support for media professionals at risk.

One key initiative is RSF’s “Propaganda Monitor,” a system designed to track and analyze state-driven disinformation campaigns. This tool has proven particularly crucial in documenting how countries like Russia, China, and Iran deploy coordinated media tactics to distort reality and suppress dissent. RSF uses this data to raise international awareness and demand accountability.

RSF also continues its leadership in the Information and Democracy Partnership, promoting global norms that recognize journalism as a public good. Through this initiative, RSF advocates for legal frameworks that protect editorial independence and promote transparency in both public and private media systems.

Digital security remains another pillar of RSF’s work. The organization provides journalists with emergency assistance, secure communication tools, legal defense, and training to resist digital surveillance and online harassment, especially in environments where press freedom is under attack.

In addition, RSF promotes ethical journalism through its Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI), which sets standards for media transparency, independence, and professionalism. By encouraging outlets to adopt these standards, RSF aims to rebuild public trust in journalism and create a counterweight to disinformation.

Looking ahead, RSF plans to deepen its monitoring efforts, expand legal and digital support, and push for structural reforms that enshrine citizens’ access to reliable information. As propaganda intensifies and press freedoms shrink, RSF warns that defending the right to information is not just a journalistic issue—it’s essential for safeguarding democracy itself.