The banning of newspapers and publishers is a threat to democracy's most valuable asset: the right to express opinions freely. Turkey, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Tanzania: hundreds of journalists were arrested all over the world just last year. Just as many media organisations were censored or closed down, including numerous newspapers.

By presenting the 2019 Gutenberg Prize to the “Fonts for Freedom” initiative run by Reporters Without Borders, the book city of Leipzig is paying tribute to a highly topical project: “Fonts for Freedom” reconstructs the fonts of daily newspapers from all over the world that have been banned and closed down. In cooperation with the agency Serviceplan Campaign Hamburg, they then make these fonts available in the internet free of charge. In this way, the initiative is taking a stand against the increasing restriction of press freedom and freedom of expression all over the world.

The NGO’s work is making banned newspapers and the courage of journalists the focus of public attention – and with them the topic of censorship. At the same time, Fonts for Freedom is making typography an ambassador for free speech and interpreting the tradition of the Gutenberg Prize in a contemporary manner. Just as they were 550 years ago, reproduced letters are still symbolic of freedom of expression. Banning the word constitutes a threat to freedom.

The exhibition shows the many campaigns by the initiative “Fonts for Freedom”. It will present poster campaigns marking Turkish president Recep Erdoğan’s visit to Berlin, banned newspapers, and film documentaries. “Reporters Without Borders” has put together a newspaper especially for the exhibition which describes the various campaigns by “Fonts for Freedom” and places them in a historical context. Visitors can take this newspaper home with them and thus help spread the idea.

In terms of content, the presentation links with the permanent media history exhibition at the German Museum of Books and Writing, which devotes an important section to the subject of censorship. 20 biographies of censored books dating from the 16th century to the present day testify not least to the dual nature of censorship: firstly, as an – in extreme cases deadly – curtailment of press freedom and freedom of opinion by ideological hubris and autocratic monopolies on power, and secondly as a measure to preserve personal rights and protect young people. The exhibition therefore aims to inspire visitors to reflect on freedom of expression and discuss its importance for democracy.

To the web page „Fonts for Freedom“