British journalist Fiona O’Brien appointed as the new RSF London bureau director
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has appointed British journalist Fiona O’Brien as director of its London bureau. She is tasked with expanding RSF’s impact in the UK and Ireland and developing the bureau, which was opened in 2016. She will also lead advocacy campaigns on UK and international press freedom issues.
O’Brien takes over the role from Rebecca Vincent, who has been appointed as Director of Operations and Campaigns at RSF’s international headquarters in Paris.
“We are confident that RSF’s London office is set to enter the next phase of its development and that Fiona O’Brien has the appropriate skills and experience to oversee that growth. We are very grateful for Rebecca Vincent’s achievements and thankful also for the impressive support provided by our UK advisory board. All of its members have been part of this effort that has an impact overseas.
O’Brien has been in journalism for more than 20 years, as a reporter and editor specialising in Africa and the Middle East. She has degrees from the University of Cambridge and King’s College London, and joins RSF from Kingston University, where she has run the MA in Journalism since 2016.
“I’m honoured to be joining RSF at this critical time for press freedom”, O’Brien said. “Polarisation and rapid changes to the way information – and disinformation – is spread make RSF’s mission more important than ever. Journalists, in the UK and beyond, must be able to continue holding power to account and exposing wrongdoing freely and without fear of reprisal.”
RSF is an international non-profit organisation that has been working for 35 years to promote and defend journalism around the world. Through its Paris headquarters, 13 international bureaus and sections, and network of correspondents in 130 countries, as well as consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the International Organisation of the Francophonie, RSF has the experience and on-the-ground presence to effectively defend journalism on a global scale.
RSF’s UK advisory board is chaired by Bénédicte Paviot, France 24’s UK correspondent, with members including Paul Conroy, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, William Horsley, David Levy, Eleanor Mills, Angela Mills Wade, Eve Pollard, Jon Snow, and Can Yeginsu.
