̶T̶R̶U̶T̶H̶ NEWS

P.S.

  Years ago, back in college, I witnessed cases of selective censorship in our student newspaper. 

That's where the idea for this game came from.

  I wanted to explore how there are no simple right or wrong choices. Truth gets distorted, both by the way we see the world and by the systems we live under.

  Sometimes, all you can do is find your way through the mess and try not to lose yourself along the way.

TRUTH NEWS — Edit the News. Censor the Truth.

Welcome to the newsroom, where every word has a price and the truth can get you killed.

You're the editor of a newspaper in a totalitarian state. The Ministry demands obedience. Readers want the truth. Your journalists want their work to mean something. And the printing house wants to get paid.

You can't please everyone. Decide what gets published, what gets buried, and what you're willing to sacrifice.

YOUR WORDS. YOUR CHOICES. THE CONSEQUENCES.

EDIT THE NEWS

Change highlighted words and phrases to shape each story. Protect the authorities, let the truth slip through, or find a way to keep everyone off your back. Just don't expect every choice to end well.

CENSOR THE PHOTOS

Sometimes a picture says too much. Black out forbidden details, crop them out, or replace the photo entirely. Miss something the Ministry doesn't want seen, and you'll pay for it.

KEEP THE BALANCE

Four things keep your newspaper alive:

• Ministry Trust — Keep the authorities happy, or face fines and closure.
• Circulation — Give readers something worth buying. Nobody wants to read propaganda forever.
• Editorial Loyalty — Push your journalists too far, and they'll walk.
• Budget — Make money from sales and pay for your mistakes. The Ministry doesn't accept excuses.

Every choice comes at a cost. Play it safe, and readers may lose interest. Print the truth, and the Ministry may come after you. Try to please both sides, and you might end up pleasing neither.

HOW LONG CAN YOU LAST?

Every day brings new stories, new photos, and new decisions. Keep the paper running for as long as you can. Let any one of your four meters hit zero, and it's over.

Here, the truth can be edited. Loyalty has its limits. And sometimes, keeping quiet costs more than speaking up.

The truth today. Your obituary tomorrow.