On a casual Thursday morning, Lebanon was shook as void papers of one of its leading and oldest newspapers, Annahar, were printed.
The eight-page issue was published on Oct. 11 with empty, white pages - a first since the newspaper's launch in 1933.
"The white is to protest the darkness we live in," Deputy Editor of Annahar English, Timothy Maloy, told StepFeed.
As issue No. 26680 was distributed, Lebanese social media took no time to speculate the reasons and meanings behind what everyone called a "stunt."
The country's economy is spiraling down an unreassuring road and its rotten politicians are delaying a cabinet formation despite the fact that it's been five months since the elections; "this puts the country on the edge," Maloy explained.
Nayla Tueni, Annahar's CEO and Deputy General Manager, said in a statement, "the pen is a weapon, and the whiteness of Annahar's papers today is our weapon."
This "bold symbolic gesture," as Maloy called it, can only happen once. It caused the ripple effect it intended to cause, and witnessed the standing effect of newspapers on people.
Media outlets are responsible for reflecting the population's voice, and that was a main factor in today's commotion. While some took the move as a declaration of bankruptcy - which Tueni denied - others could see the silence of the papers as being reflective of Lebanese nationals' suffering.
"Our scream today is to say we can't handle the situation anymore, and Annahar's pages are the population's. We call for all leaders to be conscious."
Many Lebanese had a lot to say regarding the move
"A white scream in the face of darkness. It would've been better if all Lebanese newspapers were published white, for better credibility."
"This is more expressive than a thousand words"
"Annahar was absent but gave us the space to talk about our issues"
More people wrote down their concerns
"No electricity, water, government, personal loans, jobs, money, country.
There is pollution, diseases, trash, debts, thieves, unemployment, chaos."
"The reasons are many, but the silence is one"
Some remained unimpressed
"Honestly I didn't exactly understand what's the point behind Tueni's decision. Is it a concern towards journalism, the economic crisis, or ... What is certain is that one article by Gebran Tueni would've shaken the country more than these white papers. Tomorrow people will forget, and nothing will change."