In Lebanon, where political corruption and voter apathy run deep, the media often reflects the chaosâbut rarely challenges it. In 2022, AnNahar, one of Lebanonâs leading newspapers, did something radical: it published a completely blank edition. No headlines. No articles. No ads. Just white space. Called âThe Elections Editionâ, this campaign wasnât a printing errorâit was a protest. A call to action. A reminder that if citizens donât vote, their voicesâand their storiesâdisappear.
Campaign Overview
The campaign launched with a full print run of AnNaharâs daily newspaperâcompletely blank. The edition was distributed across Lebanon and shared digitally, with the tagline: âIf you donât vote, you write your own blank future.â
The campaign extended to outdoor billboards, social media, and TV spots. AnNahar also partnered with influencers, journalists, and civic organizations to amplify the message. The blank edition became a viral symbol of democratic urgency, sparking debate and media coverage across the Arab world and beyond.
Campaign Objective
AnNahar aimed to:
Urge Lebanese citizens to participate in the 2022 parliamentary elections
Protest political stagnation and media silence around voter mobilization
Reinforce its role as a guardian of democracy and free press
Spark national and international conversation about civic responsibility
The goal was to make absence feel louder than presenceâto show whatâs lost when people donât vote.
Execution
Blank Newspaper Edition: AnNahar printed and distributed a completely blank edition to symbolize the erasure of civic voice.
Tagline Activation: âIf you donât vote, you write your own blank futureâ appeared across digital and outdoor media.
Influencer & Journalist Support: Prominent voices shared the edition and urged voter turnout.
TV & Radio Spots: Short ads echoed the visual silence, reinforcing the emotional impact.
International Coverage: The campaign was picked up by global outlets, turning a local protest into a global conversation.
Brand Impact
âThe Elections Editionâ positioned AnNahar as a fearless defender of democracy. It elevated the newspaper from a source of information to a source of inspiration. The campaign also reinforced the role of journalism not just in reporting historyâbut in shaping it.
Results
The Elections Edition Campaign by AnNahar achieved tremendous impact, generating over 1.2 billion global impressions and earning the Cannes Lions Grand Prix in Print & Publishing. The initiative sparked a massive spike in voter registration and discussions around turnout, while gaining coverage in major outlets including The Guardian, CNN, and Al Jazeera. Beyond its creative and media success, the campaign reaffirmed AnNaharâs position as a trusted civic institution, strengthening its brand identity beyond traditional media reporting.
Lessons Learned
âThe Elections Editionâ teaches us that design can be dissent. The campaign also shows the power of negative space as emotional spaceâwhen you remove content, you reveal consequence. And finally, it proves that media can be a mirror and a megaphoneâreflecting society while amplifying its call to act.
