The Erased: unifying against censorship
In 2023 we first launched our 'the Erased' campaign for World Press Freedom Day (3 May) to turn all eyes on the danger of censorship and the hundreds of imprisoned journalists worldwide. Most of the time, the stories of these journalists remain untold - because what is not published cannot be read. With the Erased's unique and specially designed font we make them visible. Media outlets and organisations from all over the world join the campaign and unite against censorship. In 2024 we launch the campaign for the second time.
The Erased uses a unique font that links every single one of the 320 imprisoned journalists in 2023 to a censored word, and erases these words from participating (news) websites worldwide. This symbolises the importance of free, independent journalism and the danger of censorship. It takes away our right to know.
Hero stories
Besides making censorship visible, the Erased also shines a light on the heroic journalists that face arrest, assaults or imprisonment. Each erased word symbolises a currently imprisoned journalist. Through all participating platforms, people can click through to a website on which these words become visible and tell the stories of journalists who faced imprisonment or legal threats through in-depth interviews.
“I have been arrested several times. (...) as I investigate corrupt officials, organisations and companies, I am always a target. The people I expose try to stop me because they do not want their corrupt affairs to come out." - Pidson Kareire, Uganda, one of the featured journalists.
The ‘the Erased’ campaign features the stories of journalists who have been censored while writing about a censored topic. This way we visualise and contextualise what happens when we lose press freedom. These journalists are heroes: they were silenced while remaining resilient in doing what mattered most. These erased stories will be told through this campaign, standing up against the censorship put upon them.