PEN America Launches Fund to Assist Early Career Screenwriters Facing Economic Hardship
Ayad Akhtar, PEN America’s president and a novelist, playwright and screenwriter, said: “During these difficult days, we are honored as a writers organization to do as much as we… More
PEN America Mourns the Death of Bloomsbury USA President Adrienne Vaughan
"Adrienne Vaughan lent her extraordinary talent, passion and persistence to the cause of free expression and the freedom to read. Beyond her impressive publishing talents working with writers, she… More
PEN America Publishes Fifth DREAMing Out Loud Anthology: Original Essays, Poems, Short Stories, Plays From Migrant Authors in New York City
“These are voices that deserve to be recognized, championed, and taken into our hearts,” said Jared Jackson, director of Literary Programs and Emerging Voices. “Their stories are unique and… More
Texas Law Requiring Book Ratings for “Sexual Relevance” in Schools Spurs Lawsuit
Jonathan Friedman, director, Free Expression and Education program, at PEN America, said: "This law is clearly an effort to intimidate publishers and police the circulation of ideas and information.… More
Additional Parents Join Lawsuit Against Book Bans in Florida’s Escambia County
"As a Black mother of two teenage girls, I know how important it is for our children to have access to books like The Freedom Writers Diary and Beloved,"… More
Relief that Egyptian Writer Patrick Zaki is Pardoned and Released from Prison After Sentencing for “Spreading False News”
Justin Shilad, research and advocacy lead for the Middle East and North Africa at PEN America, said: “The sentence against Patrick Zaki is an outrage, and indicative of the… More
New Report: Communities Can Counter Disinformation by Taking Local and Cultural Context Into Account
Kate Ruane, director, Sy Syms U.S. Free Expression Programs at PEN America, said: “Much of the conversation about how to counter disinformation pays insufficient attention to how people actually… More
PEN America Mourns the Death of Prize-Winning Ukrainian Author and PEN-Ukraine Member Victoria Amelina
Polina Sadovskaya, Eurasia director at PEN America, said: “Victoria Amelina was a celebrated Ukrainian author who turned her distinct and powerful voice to investigate and expose war crimes after… More
PEN America Legal Filing Argues that Florida’s Stop WOKE Act is Unconstitutional
“Florida’s ‘Stop W.O.K.E.’ Act impedes the robust exchange of ideas that is foundational to our education system and our democracy,” said Kate Ruane, Sy Syms director of the U.S.… More
PEN America, in Partnership with The Bare Life Review Journal, Announces $5000 Grants to Support Works in Progress by Immigrant and Refugee Writers
We have long admired the work of The Bare Life Review and are deeply honored to have this opportunity to support the work of immigrant and refugee writers. We… More