CONTEXT:
In an election year when extremist narratives were louder than ever in Romania, ZYX Books launched the Romanian edition of one of the world’s most powerful works on democracy: “How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future” by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa.
The book’s release became a social statement — one that transcended the political noise of the election season. We used billboards and official electoral poster spaces, placing Maria Ressa’s face alongside those of real political candidates. We ran banners across news websites.
And at the country’s largest book festival, we staged a mock political campaign — complete with a tent, posters, and volunteers inviting people to “Vote for Maria Ressa.”
Her portrait, lifted from the book cover, appeared next to extremist candidates with autocratic ambitions — a striking visual contrast between democracy and manipulation.
Instead of campaign slogans, we displayed her own words: quotes about truth, courage, civic duty, and the indispensable role of a free press in protecting democracy.
The outcome?
A cultural intervention that fused activism, publishing, and civic consciousness.
Maria Ressa’s vision of truth and freedom ignited a national conversation — in mainstream media, across social platforms, and in people’s minds.
Book sales doubled.
But more importantly, the launch became a statement in itself:
Culture — and a free press — still have the power to defend democracy.
