The PEN Pod: Conveying Collective Trauma with Brandon Shimoda
“We’re in this moment where we’re all collectively undergoing this extraordinary trauma. . . in a way in which it’s not entirely visible.” More
The PEN Pod: Tough Questions with Suzanne Nossel
“It’s a new normal, where all kinds of actors. . . around the world have recognized that they can, incredibly cheaply, purvey propagandistic messages.” More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with C Pam Zhang
“If I must live in a world in which I regularly grapple with how my identity shapes me, then the most honest thing I can do is to commit… More
Local Journalist Heroes: Jeff Goertzen
“When we publish a COVID-19 related story, we ask how can this empower people right now to protect their families.” More
The PEN Pod: Finding Hope in Endurance with Emily St. John Mandel
“This is something that our ancestors endured, and something that our descendants will endure, and our society. . . has endured through all of that.” More
Local Journalist Heroes: Texas Observer Staff
“We are constantly looking for stories that have been overshadowed or communities that are under-covered—and unfortunately, those are often among the most vulnerable.” More
Local Journalist Heroes: Lyndsey Gilpin
This Q&A is part of Local Heroes: Journalists Covering COVID-19, PEN America’s series spotlighting local journalists across the country in celebration of World Press Freedom Day 2020, elevating the… More
Local Journalist Heroes: Mike and Brandi Simons
“It goes without saying that less staff covers less news. And we are covering news that people desperately need now.” More
The PEN Pod: Confronting Science Fiction and Our Reality with N.K. Jemisin
“None of us could have written a story that had this kind of subplot because our editors would have been like, ‘It's unrealistic, go back and do it again.’” More
Local Journalist Heroes: Connor Sheets
“Without local journalism, I honestly don’t know where people would turn for information about what’s going on in their communities.” More