PEN America Condemns Ongoing Russian Efforts to Stifle Independent Media and Civil Society
“The Russian Federation is using every tactic in the book to silence criticism and open debate. Laws that define organizations as ‘undesirable,’ that limit their options to receive funding,… More
PEN America: Meta Decision Lifting Trump Suspension To Hinge on How New Guardrails are Implemented and Enforced
“Meta’s decision to end its suspension of former President Trump from its platforms appears to be based on a reasoned weighing of current threats and the value of public… More
Bill to Ban TikTok is a Sweeping Resort to Censorship that Would Undermine Free Expression, Says PEN America
Proposals such as Hawley’s–including the recently introduced Terminate TikTok on Campus Act (H.R. 231), which would prohibit federal funding of higher education institutions unless they ban TikTok on institution-owned… More
PEN America Presents Conversation Feb. 1 with National Book Award Winner and Birmingham Native Imani Perry
Birmingham Reads launched last summer and engaged over 100 community members in conversations about history, race, music, and culture, according to Alina Stefanescu, PEN Birmingham chapter leader. She said: “Reading… More
Saturday Night Live’s Lorne Michaels and Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos Will Be Honored at PEN America 2023 Spring Literary Gala, with SNL’s Weekend Update Co-Anchor Colin Jost as Host
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said: “Lorne Michaels’ unique brand of uproarious and fearless political and social sketches forever changed television and comedy. The political landscape wouldn’t be the… More
“Let Utah Read” Event Jan. 25 Celebrates the Freedom to Read, As it Falls Under Attack from Book Bans
Books are under profound attack in the United States and in Utah. Since the passage of HB 374 in 2022, book banning and book challenges have increased dramatically across… More
Closing of Art Exhibit about Racism at Arkansas Tech U Deprives Campus of Opportunity to Engage with it
Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager in the Free Expression and Education program, made the following comments: “That art dealing with racism in America has impacted viewers in different ways is understandable.… More
Over One Hundred Authors Across Eleven Categories Make Longlist for 2023 PEN America Literary Prizes
Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, chief of literary programs at PEN America, said: “For 60 years, writers and translators selected for PEN America’s awards have brought us closer to unfamiliar lives… More
Harvard Deserves Credit for Reversing Decision Witholding a Fellowship from Former Human Rights Watch Leader
"It is important for institutions to be able to recognize where they have made an error that encroaches on free speech and academic freedom and to correct it; Harvard… More
PEN America and PEN Sydney Join More than 170 Writers Calling for the Release of Iranian Poet Ali Asadollahi and Other Writers Imprisoned in Iran
“Since the outpouring of sustained nationwide protests against the government in September, Iran’s writers and broader creative community have been caught in the crosshairs, targeted by authorities with preventative… More