News & Analysis
The latest news and analysis from PEN America’s research and advocacy.
Jump to:
Press Releases • Commentary
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of April 15
PEN America works tirelessly to defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Here are some of the latest ways PEN America is speaking out. More
Statement by PEN America on Campus Protests
As campuses continue to see growing student mobilization, we call on campus administrators to uphold their obligations to safeguard peaceful protest and free expression; protect students from harassment and… More
Legal Filing by PEN America Urges Appeals Court to Uphold Injunction Against Iowa’s Book Ban Law
Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America’s Florida office, said: “Under the guise of protecting children from so-called age-inappropriate content, laws like SF496 are a smokescreen for censorship of constitutionally-protected… More
PEN America Lauds Resolution in Congress Marking April as “Preserving and Protecting Local News Month”
“Throughout our nation’s history, local news has been a bulwark for holding power to account and advancing a pluralistic democracy that represents and includes all, irrespective of their background… More
Response to Prism Reports Article Raising Concern Over Cash Prize Money Delays for Prize-Winning Incarcerated Writers
As a long-term course correction, PJW has already created an internal audit system to double check to ensure all payments that go out each month are received by the… More
PEN America: USC Decision to Cancel Valedictorian’s Graduation Speech Amounts to “Heckler’s Veto”
PEN America’s Kristen Shahverdian, program director for Campus Free Speech, said: “This amounts to a heckler’s veto – this student should have been given the opportunity to give the… More
New Report Finds Unprecedented Surge in School Books Bans
“Students are at the epicenter of the book banning movement, and they’re fearlessly spearheading the fight against this insidious encroachment into what they can read and learn across the… More
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of April 8
PEN America works tirelessly to defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Here are some of the latest ways PEN America is speaking out. More
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of April 1
PEN America works tirelessly to defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Here are some of the latest ways PEN America is speaking out. More
New Report Prescribes Peer Support to Help Journalists Targeted by Online Abuse
“Online abuse disproportionately impacts journalists who are people of color, women, LBGTQ+, and members of religious or ethnic minorities,” said Jeje Mohamed, coauthor of the report and PEN America’s… More