Reporters Without Borders brings iconic Press Freedom Awards ceremony to London for the first time

Established in 1992, previous winners of the awards include the renowned late Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, imprisoned Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, courageous Syrian journalist Zaina Erhaim, and embattled Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet.

This year’s awards were selected by a high-profile international jury, including notable figures such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi and Chinese activist Wu’er Kaixi - both RSF emeritus board members - as well as RSF President Pierre Haski.

The award categories will recognise journalists, media organisations, and NGOs for ‘Courage’, ‘Impact’, and ‘Independence’, as well as a special new award created for a UK journalist, ‘L’esprit de RSF’.

The prestigious awards ceremony will take place in the fitting setting of the Getty Images Gallery in London’s Fitzrovia. Veteran foreign correspondent, author, and Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum will be presenting the ceremony.

Christophe Deloire, RSF Secretary-General commented: “We are thrilled to bring this wonderful international event to London, honouring the journalists who fight every day to uphold the principle of truthful reporting and the free press. It’s important to celebrate and support excellent journalism in an age when the industry is under attack from autocrats from Yangon to Washington DC”.

Eve Pollard, Fleet Street legend and chair of RSF UK’s advisory board, said: “Just as in the rest of the world, journalists in the UK face challenges to their profession; bringing our awards from France to London for the first time is an expression of solidarity and also respect for the brilliant work that Britain’s journalists do at home and abroad every day”.

Rebecca Vincent, RSF UK Bureau Director said: “RSF UK is looking forward to bringing the best and bravest international journalists to London. We hope that recognising their courageous and important work on the global stage here will offer them vital protection”.

Notes for editors: 

• The RSF 2018 Press Freedom Awards will take place on 8 November. 
• Prizes will be awarded to journalists, media organisations, and NGOs from around the world for ‘Courage’, ‘Impact’, and ‘Independence’. A special new award has also been created for the UK, ‘L’esprit de RSF’. 
• The international award winners will be available in London for interviews from 8 to 9 November.
• For more information, contact RSF UK Bureau Director Rebecca Vincent at [email protected] or +44 (0)20 7324 8903.