Reporters Without Borders
As soon as you open the site http://www.rsf.org, you can tell they are here to bring the news to everyone. On their main page, you can choose to have the language of the site translated to French, English, Arabic, Spanish, Persian, and Chinese. Encompassing most of the major languages of the world, RSF is a tool of communication that tears down any barriers (even technical ones: they broadcast in RSS format for users of the service) that could bar the flow of information.
RSF (as the site will be referred to from here on) is primarily a news site, dealing with any issues that are pertinent throughout the globe., but particularly focusing on ones about freedom.
The site is very easily laid out. Some news websites can be quite convoluted, with headlines all over the screen, distracting your attention this way and that, but RSF lays their website out to be easily navigable: at the top, the major news. Near the middle, news organized by country and region. At the bottom, a “barometer”, showing journalist casualties, media assistants imprisoned, among other things to allow a quick check-up on foreign affairs. Underneath this, there is a search engine that allows you to view all things pertinent to a year, view Internet threats by country, or do an overall world report. On the side, there is merchandise to buy, and other sites the site recommends. Unlike some sites, RSF doesn’t have pop-ups touting its merchandise, and it doesn’t throw itself at you begging you to buy something.
RSF stands for “Reporter Sans Frontieres”, or, as the English speaking would say, “Reporter Without Borders.” The name follows suit with their organization; they don’t shy away from sensitive news, and won’t stop reporting just because a country doesn’t like it. They believe in Internet freedom, and demonstrate this by reporting the real news and hot topics all of the time, and not leaving anything out. Here you may find articles about the killing of journalists, or even writing protesting an oppressive leader’s habits. They take no prisoners; the way news should be. They don’t sugarcoat anything, calling Iran “the world’s biggest Internet jail”. This is true, and most news companies would have trouble coming out and saying it. The site even has a “Predators” section on its main page, which brazenly point out online predators to keep tabs on.
The site was formed in France with the original intention of being an alternative journalism site. After that failed, the current owner set the site’s sights on freedom of press. You can see the hints of alternative journalism throughout the site, but the freedom of press is palpable as soon as you log on. The site is a contributing member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, an organization dedicated to finding and revealing to the world unjust cases of people’s freedom of press and rights. In 2005, they actually won the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize, and graciously shared it with two other organizations. Recently, the site has released books and guides to help the average person remain anonymous on the Internet, and avoid censorship.
The site has a whole section called “Things We Like.” This is a collection of things that constantly update and show things that tie-in with the site’s aim for freedom of press and Internet expression. Currently, they are advertising a benefit for a journalist named Samir Kassir who was killed unjustly in a car bombing. He was described as a “talented and courageous” journalist, who risked and eventually gave his life to bring the real news to the public. The “Events” and “Campaigns” sections brings the things the website believes enhance and further their cause into the light. Investigating any three of these links will provide a user with ways to learn more and possibly participate in the website and its related causes. There is a section on the main page that provides an in-depth biography of the site, and a unique section that explains their expenditures, something very rare on the Internet. If you are really interested and have a fire for the subject matter, there is a tab called “Work With Us”, where one could find themselves the author of these Fourth Amendment touting articles.
Having a freedom of expression and press is a rapidly waning reality in a world where censorship, and sometimes simply believing the phrase “Ignorance is bliss” blocks us from knowing the true goings-on of the world. This site cuts through all of that: no matter how terrible the story is, if it needs to be heard, it will be. They also won’t back down to censorship or government pressure, and have seen many rewards for it. RSF always delivers the inside scoop in a convenient fashion, and hosts it on a visually appealing and easy to follow website. They leave no one behind either, hosting 6 of the world’s most popular languages. If you want the real news, and nothing but, and completely uncensored, look no further than RSF. If you just want a quick debriefing on the state of affairs around the world, take a quick look at the bottom of the main page and choose your country of concern. RSF is truly the people’s news.
