To inform is to build bridges

September 2025. When I took over as head of CFI, I was reminded of a simple truth: to inform is to build bridges. To build bridges between people, links between facts and citizens, and defences against mistrust. In the face of disinformation that divides, isolates and destroys, our mission is clear: to foster common ground where others sow division.

As a former journalist turned diplomat, I know just how much of a pillar of democracy reliable and pluralistic information is and how much the defence of a free press is at the heart of what France stands for. In a world where our country and its partners are targeted by massive information manipulation, where fake news undermines democracy, our role has never been more vital. In this regard, I commend the work of my predecessor, Thierry Vallat, who succeeded in positioning CFI as a key player in this battle.

Today, faced with this urgent situation, we are stepping up our efforts. The Quai d’Orsay has made information warfare a priority; CFI is at the heart of this. We are taking action where divisions run deepest – priority areas for French diplomacy, regions weakened by crises – to sow the seeds of integrity there.

Our tools? Innovation, training and partnerships, particularly with our parent company France Médias Monde, and one firm conviction : ethical, sustainable and innovative media are essential to the long-term survival of democracies.

Our values? Professional ethics, integrity, respect for editorial independence and constant vigilance against the manipulation of information in any form, particularly on climate, health, scientific and gender issues. Because disinformation is not some distant threat; it affects our everyday lives. We witnessed this during the Covid-19 pandemic.

CFI’s projects address local needs identified by our partners on the ground. They deliver immediate responses and results, backed up by evaluations and impact studies. They also forge long-term links with a network of journalists and fact-checkers who are doing a tremendous job of making complex issues accessible and informing the public.

But we cannot do all this alone: I would like to express my gratitude to the CFI teams, whose commitment is our strength, but also to our partners on the ground and our European allies, for the shared momentum launched and strengthened in recent months.

As threats in the information sphere continue to intensify, we are at a pivotal moment, which compels us to reaffirm our commitments all the more loudly and clearly.

Together, we are building an ecosystem where information connects, enlightens and unites. Because to inform is to enlighten. Because to inform is to build bridges.”

Emmanuelle Talon
CEO of CFI