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.
- PEN America expressed grave concern about the White House’s decision to restrict the White House press corps from the press secretary’s office and the “Upper Press” office space. “Closing off this section of the West Wing severs one more line of accountability between the government and the American people, part of a pattern that is straining the nation’s foundational principle of a free press,” said Tim Richardson, program director for journalism and disinformation. Read the full statement here.
- Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko visited PEN America’s office in New York, where he told us that we must continue speaking out on behalf of journalists in prison. Yesypenko, a 2022 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Awardee, was incarcerated in Russia-occupied Crimea for more than four years because of his journalism. PEN America advocated for his release at the time, holding an action day outside of the Russian Federation Consulate in New York City. Read more about his visit here.
- PEN America raised alarm about the detention and harassment of six writers in Iran this week. Since the start of Iran’s military conflict with Israel in June, authorities have ramped up attacks on writers, poets, artists, and activists across the country. “We strongly condemn these repressive tactics meant to quash independent thinking, analysis, and expression, and demand that the government release all writers from jail,” said Karin Deutsch Karlekar, director of Writers at Risk. Read the full statement here.
- PEN America announced the 33 winners of the 2025 PEN Prison Writing Awards. For the first time since the founding of the awards in 1971, this year’s judging panel included six formerly incarcerated writers who previously won the awards. Read more and view the list of winners here.
- A BookRiot story explains how students in Georgia overturned eight book bans in their state’s reading bowl. The students gave a shoutout to PEN America, especially Tasslyn Magnusson, senior advisor for the Freedom to Read program. “After our efforts came to fruition, we got in touch with some pretty awesome activist groups, such as PEN America,” one student said.
- PEN America urged the University of Minnesota Regents to reconsider its recent resolution, which prevents academic departments and other centers on campus from making statements “addressing matters of public concern or public interest.” The resolution comes in response to heightened pressure from state legislators, who have pushed the university to adopt a stance of institutional neutrality. Read the full letter here.
- Missed the 2025 Emerging Voices Fellows’ final reading? Read about their reflections on the program and listen to their polished prose and poetry here.
- PEN America announced its Winter Emerging Voices Workshop Cohort, a group of 13 writers who will participate in a week-long intensive writing workshop in Los Angeles later this month. Read the full statement here, and find more information about the writers here.
