EJN founder pays tribute to RSF’s Christophe Deloire

We were shocked to hear of the death yesterday (June 8th), at the age of 53, of Christophe Deloire, the director general of Reporters Without Borders, with whom the Ethical Journalism network will merge later this year.  Aidan White, the Founder of the EJN had written this appreciation of his friend and colleague.

Christophe Deloire

The death of Christophe Deloire is shocking news. It takes from us a global champion for independent journalism and press freedom. He was a force of nature whose boundless energy and courageous leadership in the fight for information and democracy have inspired human rights defenders everywhere.

His work in recent years, at the forefront of the global fight for information democracy, has been groundbreaking. New allies, both political and professional, have rallied to the cause of free journalism and free speech. His extraordinary talent for building durable coalitions in a sector where divisions have weakened the struggle for the rights of journalists is unparalleled.

In particular, his dedication to the truth, free expression and ethical journalism has made him a friend of everyone at the Ethical Journalism Network. Over the past year, he has led the work to bring Reporters Without Borders and the EJN into a new partnership to reinvigorate the campaign for quality journalism.

We are distressed that he has gone and we send our sympathy with heartfelt affection to his family and RSF colleagues. We will do everything we can to honour his memory by continuing the fight he led so valiantly.

For myself, this is a terribly sad moment. When he started at RSF he was relatively unknown, but within months he had put his mark on a new era for the organisation. I was proud to work with him over the years and to have him as a close friend and ally. I will miss him terribly.