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PEN America to Honor Thrill Master Stephen King for Lifelong Contributions to Literature and Commitment to Free Expression
PEN America confers the Literary Service Award each year to a critically-acclaimed writer whose body of work helps us understand and interpret the human condition, engendering empathy and imagination… More
2018 PEN America Publisher Honoree: Carolyn Reidy
Reidy’s commitment to diversity at Simon & Schuster has led the company to make substantial progress in creating a more diverse workforce and to publish a wider range of… More
2018 PEN America Literary Service Award: Stephen King
King is an impassioned advocate of freedom of expression, literacy, and access to information, which he and his wife Tabitha support through their philanthropy. More
DARE: Trump Denies Making ‘Shithole Countries’ Comment
The language of racism and ignorance comes to the fore as President Trump is reported to denigrate Haiti, El Salvador, and African countries at a meeting on immigration, and… More
Detained Bangladeshi Blogger Asad Noor Should be Released and Given Protection
Bloggers like Asad Noor live in fear of physical attack or even murder from extremist groups on the one hand, and then face persecution from their government on the other. We… More
Vote to Reauthorize Warrantless Surveillance a Blow to Free Expression
The House vote to reauthorize warrantless surveillance poses an acute threat to free expression across the globe, but it is doubly concerning given President Trump's apparent willingness to target… More
DARE: Trump Renews Pledge to ‘Take a Strong Look’ at Libel Laws
Trump threatens to stiffen libel laws in wake of Michael Wolff book (see PEN America statement here). Controversy erupts over "Shitty Men in Media" list that circulated last fall.… More
Thailand: Charges against octogenarian writer and activist dropped
PEN welcomes the decision taken by Thai military prosecutors not to pursue charges of lèse majesté against renowned writer and activist Sulak Sivaraksa. Background Sulak Sivaraksa, aged 85, is a well… More
Trump’s Threat to “Take a Strong Look” at Libel Laws an Attack on U.S. Constitution
Under the First Amendment people are free to denigrate and offend the president or anyone else, a freedom with which the president should be well-acquainted given his own penchant… More
DARE: Steve Bannon Out At Breitbart News
Former White House strategist Steve Bannon is ousted from right-wing media outlet Breitbart after angering Trump with his comments in Michael Wolff's book, Fire and Fury. Trump attorney sues… More