According to the Press Freedom Index, Lebanon ranked 140th out of 180 countries in 2024, down from 119th in 2023. This is indeed concerning. In a time when journalistic integrity is clearly under threat, Al Joumhouria, a leading newspaper in Lebanon, is turning the tide through its critical voice and independent journalism. Contrary to popular belief, newspapers are more prevalent and valued now than ever, as they lack automated algorithms that suppress vital visuals and information from war zones.

With the country at the heart of regional conflicts, journalists often find their online images flagged as “sensitive” or “violating guidelines,” preventing stories from the ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts from reaching a global audience. The creative challenge was how to bypass these algorithms while preserving the emotional power of the heart-wrenching war scenes.

Al Joumhouria launched Uncensored Press, a bold initiative that transformed censored war images into typewritten artwork. Collaborating with artist Keira Rathbone, Al Joumhouria recreated these visuals entirely through typewritten text to bypass social media filters. The campaign leveraged the very foundation of journalism—words—to outsmart content algorithms, proving that when platforms fail, creative solutions can keep the truth alive.

These powerful visuals were shared across social media, printed in major Lebanese newspapers, and distributed to global media partners, reaching over 500,000 viewers in just 10 days with zero algorithmic takedowns. Beyond restoring suppressed stories, the campaign reinforced the importance of a free press and sparked critical conversations about the ethical consequences of algorithmic censorship.