Using blocks to unblock the news

It’s World Press Freedom Day on May 3, but let’s file a story well ahead of the deadline by praising an initiative that allows access to censored articles via an online game. The project launched only last month – before people were forced to stay at home and access libraries only via their laptops. Created by DDB Berlin and MediaMonks for Reporters Without Borders, The “Uncensored Library” is an open library within Minecraft, a hugely popular game with over 145 million players a month. It gives people access to articles and independent information that is unavailable in countries with heavy press censorship – and where journalists sometimes fear for their lives. While their blogs and websites are blocked, Minecraft remains open. So now journalists from Mexico, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Russia have a place to speak out.