France Launches ‘Voices in Exile’ to Support Displaced Journalists

September 20, 2024 – France – 

In a bold initiative to protect independent journalism and support displaced media professionals, France has launched the “Voices in Exile” program, making Paris a central hub for exiled journalists. Spearheaded by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Canal France International (CFI), SINGA, and the Maison des Journalistes—with support from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs—the program offers a comprehensive support system for journalists forced to flee repressive regimes.

Officially launched in September 2024, the three-year initiative will support four cohorts of displaced journalists through a nine-month process, including a six-month core program followed by three months of ongoing mentorship. The inaugural group of 18 participants includes journalists from Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Egypt, Haiti, Belarus, Russia, Guinea, and Tunisia.

“Voices in Exile” provides more than just refuge. It delivers a structured path toward rebuilding professional lives. Journalists receive administrative and legal assistance, housing in the Île-de-France region, psychosocial counseling, French language training, and cultural integration support. They also gain access to professional workspaces at Gaîté Lyrique in Paris, complete with podcast and video studios, editing suites, and essential equipment.

The program’s editorial and entrepreneurial components are equally robust. Participants benefit from tailored workshops on safety, fact-checking, digital security, audience engagement, and content production. Seasoned mentors and media professionals offer individualized guidance to help them re-establish their careers, launch media ventures, or join established outlets.

At the launch event, RSF’s Antoine Bernard emphasized the project’s importance in defending press freedom and combating global disinformation. Haitian journalist Jean-Samuel Mentor, a program participant, described it as a vital opportunity to “start from scratch again” and continue informing the public despite forced displacement.

As authoritarian governments increasingly suppress critical voices, “Voices in Exile” offers hope and infrastructure for journalists in exile to remain active. France joins a growing European network of safe havens for media workers, alongside similar efforts in Germany, Spain, the UK, Belgium, and the Nordic countries.

In an era of rising repression, this program affirms France’s commitment to press freedom—not just in principle, but in practical, life-saving terms.

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