Founded in 2009 in Milan, Italy, Pressenza came into being to offer a platform for social activism and humanist values . The idea sparked when a group of volunteers with backgrounds in communication and social movements decided to create a news agency that would highlight issues like peace and nonviolence, which they felt needed more visibility in the global media landscape . Today, the agency is legally registered in Quito, Ecuador, and is run as an independent, decentralized organization by teams of volunteers across the globe rather than a traditional corporate owner . Today, Pressenza is mainly focused on news about human rights, disarmament, and international politics . They also cover a variety of other subjects such as science, technology, health, and culture, and even report on international sports events . They have a major international presence with offices in over 30 cities, including New York, London, Athens, and Manila, and they provide their news service in many different languages to reach people all over the world . One interesting fact: A unique fact about Pressenza is that it is powered entirely by volunteers—including its columnists, photographers, and translators—who provide their professional work for free to keep the agency completely independent from any economic or corporate interests .