Deyda Hydara Fellowship

A special fellowship program for journalists in acute danger was launched in November 2023: The Deyda Hydara Fellowship, named after the Gambian journalist and RSF correspondent who was murdered in 2004.

With this relaunch, Reporters Without Borders is strengthening a protection program for media professionals who are no longer safe in their home country or in the region and need temporary protection due to exceptionally acute threats. In recent years, this has unfortunately become increasingly necessary due to rising reprisals and multiple crises worldwide. In cooperation with protection programs such as The European Union Temporary Relocation Platform (EUTRP), an initiative of the European Commission, and the German Elisabeth Selbert Initiative of ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations), RSF has been able to offer selected journalists the opportunity to reorient themselves in a safe environment. During the six-month fellowship, they can reorient evaluate their future work and safety situation, take advantage of security training and counseling, and receive support in dealing with traumatic experiences.

Journalist Deyda Hydara was editor of the independent newspaper The Point in The Gambia and correspondent for the AFP news agency and RSF. For his newspaper, Hydara wrote a popular column entitled "Good morning Mr. President", in which he regularly criticized the president and his policies, for which he was constantly threatened. The 58-year-old father of four children was shot dead in the street on December 16, 2004. Shortly before, he had sharply criticized the new, extremely repressive press laws in the then dictatorship of President Yahya Jammeh.

Baba Hydara, the son of the murdered journalist, was moved by the idea of supporting media professionals from all over the world with a program to keep the memory of his father alive: "My mother, my sisters and my brothers, we are all enthusiastic about the proposal to name the fellowship program after my father. RSF's work goes a long way to making journalists and their families around the world feel supported and valued as they do what can be difficult and dangerous work. Our father worked for RSF for decades, dedicating his time and energy to spreading journalism and the free press in West Africa. Throughout his career, he helped young aspiring journalists in The Gambia by encouraging, supporting and nurturing their own careers. We are proud and honored by this great gesture."

As of 2023, the Deyda Hydara Fellowship replaces the "Emergency Aid Fellowship" program which had been receiving exceptional cases since 2016. Nominations are made by the RSF regional programs only; a direct application is not possible.

Current fellows