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Attention and Affinities
“As writers, many of us are caught in the middle. Our creative imaginations are not discursive, but organic. We are pulled where the muses and where the fertile blindspots… More
Scope and Speed of Educational Gag Orders Worsening Across the Country
In the month since the release of our report, educational gag orders have grown more sweeping in scope and become law with increasing speed. More
PEN America Denounces the Upcoming Trial and Arbitrary Detention of Journalist and Human Rights Defender Pham Doan Trang
“The international community has made it abundantly clear that the ongoing detention of Pham Doan Trang is unacceptable,” said Karin Deutsch Karlekar, director of Free Expression at Risk Programs… More
PEN America Welcomes Introduction of Platform Accountability and Transparency Act
Senators Chris Coons, Amy Klobuchar, and Rob Portman yesterday introduced the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act, which would shine a light on the inner workings of big tech platforms… More
The PEN Pod: On Self-Censorship, Book Bans, and Biden’s Virtual Democracy Summit
“Students are really crucial allies. They have, I think, an instinctive sense of not wanting to be told what they can and can’t read.” More
PEN America Reacts to Julian Assange Extradition Decision
“The relentless pursuit of charges against Julian Assange by the Department of Justice continues to pose a significant threat to press freedom globally.” More
PEN America Reacts to DarkMatter Lawsuit
“Al-Hathloul’s suit is a courageous contribution to establishing that accountability and our collective safety." More
Here Are Four Things Educational Gag Orders Could Ban
We offer illustrative examples of texts, documents, and discourse that educational gag orders could bar from being taught or discussed in classrooms. More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Peter Stamm
“I’m interested in people and characters who have a secret. A secret past or a secret passion or a secret goal—something hidden that I can try to find out.” More
After COVID-19 Infection, PEN America Demands Iran Release Imprisoned Writers
The literary and free expression groups PEN America and PEN Sydney issued an urgent call today for the immediate release of four Iranian writers being unjustly held in detention. More