Local Journalist Heroes: Justine van der Leun
“Any prison reporting that centers the voices of those inside is the result of someone having the courage to come forward in the face of losing what little they… More
Local Journalist Heroes: Michelle Kanaar and Nissa Rhee
“There’s so much bad news out there, but it’s been amazing to see people work together to protect each other and push for larger systemic changes.” More
Local Journalist Heroes: Jake Goldstein-Street
“Some of our best stories these past couple of months have been based on input from readers.” More
The PEN Pod: Singing About Dark Times with Carolyn Forché
“People have always turned to poetry in moments of extremity, because poetry arises—it’s deeply sourced, it’s memorable, it’s musical, and it offers us awareness.” More
Local Journalist Heroes: Keri Blakinger
“There are just more prisons and jails than there are reporters to cover them right now.” More
Local Journalist Heroes: Victoria Merlino
“Local news just gets things done. Simple as that.” More
Local Journalist Heroes: Corrinne Hess
“I think during this pandemic, local news plays the most vital role in keeping people informed.” More
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
Amid Pandemic, PEN America Urges State Officials to Support Local Journalism
COVID-19’s devastating economic impact on local news outlets is threatening their ability to function at all. More