sideline's empty newspapers question information overload in today's world

living in a world of constant sensory overload, sideline collective offers us a little respite with their project titled ‘nothing in the news’. 24 hours a day, people are bombarded with real-time information by every media outlet and platform competing for their attention through one pop-up notification at a time. so, what would it feel like to go just one day with absolutely no news, no massive data intake? 

‘nothing in le monde’

‘we invest hours on end staring at our mobile devices; we want to know what’s going on, the why and the how. we need to know,’ explains sideline collective. ‘but in our perpetual quest to fill every spare minute of our time searching for something meaningful, we learn nothing. we are so busy filling every waking moment with things to watch and do, and learn and listen to, that we have forgotten what it is like to just be. to sit around and think. to switch off and be bored. to daydream.’ 

‘nothing in argumenti Y facti’

even though the world is living in particularly sensitive times — when truth really matters and newspapers play an integral role in democracy — societies are becoming frighteningly addicted to breaking news, gossips, top tens, conspiracies, internet videos and porn. therefore, for this cultural precipice, the team offers the one thing people need more than ever: nothing to read about. ‘absolutely nothing. today, and today only, there is nothing in the news. enjoy it whilst you can.’

‘nothing in correio da manha’

‘nothing in el pais’

‘nothing in corriere della sera’

‘nothing in the sun’

spread from ‘nothing in the sun’

spread from ‘nothing in the sun’

‘nothing in die zeit’

overall spread of ‘nothing in new york times’

‘nothing in the times’

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom