When one thinks of the dangers faced by journalists during the French Revolution, it is not usually the opening years that come to mind.With Camille Desmoulins, in particular, the inclination to focus predominately on the period of the Vieux Cordelier seems highly appropriate. Yet the risks inherent in his profession clearly emerged before the Year II, not least for Desmoulins, himself. Indeed, this article examines how a « patriotic writer » like Camille Desmoulins could be exposed to the risks arising from his profession, and how his responsibilities as a journalist led him to confront these risks from the very appearance of his first newspaper, Les Révolutions de France et de Brabant (1789-1791). Should the revolutionary journalist be prepared to risk everything to defend his principles ?Did he have to go to the point of sacrificing himself ? Desmoulins’ own answer to these questions sheds light both on his approach and his legitimacy, as well as on the status of the journalist under the Constituent Assembly.