News & Analysis
The latest news and analysis from PEN America’s research and advocacy.
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Press Releases • Commentary
Russian Government Slaps Independent Media Outlet With “Foreign Agent” Label
Russia's government took the drastic step of designating the privatey-owned media outlet Meduza as a "foreign agent" late last week. More
Cuban Authorities Must Release Detained Cuban Artists and Cease Harassment Campaign
On Thursday morning, Cuban police arrested four artists and one independent journalist attempting to leave their houses to participate in a demonstration in support of independent artist Luis Manuel… More
Coalition Urges White House to Establish Disinformation Defense and Free Expression Task Force
(New York, NY) — Today PEN America, alongside a coalition of human rights, free speech, democracy, and technology organizations, sent a letter to the White House urging the Biden-Harris… More
New York City Mayoral Candidates Commit to Supporting Literary Arts
With just three months to go until the primary, contenders for New York City mayor have proclaimed their commitment to financially supporting writers and the literary arts if elected. More
PEN America Condemns Indian Government Attempts to Block COVID Criticism
PEN America today condemned the Indian government’s attempts to stifle free expression by censoring social media posts amid the country’s battle with a massive surge in COVID-19 cases. More
PEN America Responds to Decision to Take Philip Roth Biography Out of Print
We are concerned about a precedent whereby even egregious misdeeds by an author result in a book being withdrawn, and potentially taken off limits for readers. More
PEN America: Simon & Schuster Should Not Cancel Pence Book Deal
Publishers are free to choose what books to release, but once those decisions are made, there should be a very high bar for reversing them as a result of… More
Writers in the Schools Committee Interview ‘Rampage’ Student Staff
James Traub, founder and director of Writers in the Schools, interviewed staff members of ‘Rampage,’ produced by the Newspaper Club at the Manhattan Center for Science and Math. More
Cuban Artist Under House Arrest Begins Hunger and Thirst Strike
Independent Cuban artist and activist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara announced that he would begin a hunger and thirst strike this week after being placed under de facto house arrest.… More
PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature Returns, Celebrating Power to the People
The literary and free expression group PEN America today announced that tickets are now on sale for the 2021 PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, running May 18-22.… More