PEN America’s Guide on COVID-19 and Disinformation
As the coronavirus pandemic heightens nerves, disinformation has found fertile ground. Here are a few steps you can take to evaluate news stories that are blowing up your feed. More
China’s Smear of Mario Vargas Llosa an Attempt to Silence Criticism
The Chinese government’s attacks on Mario Vargas Llosa should be seen for what they are: an attempt to dismiss valid criticism of their handling of the coronavirus by smearing… More
Classifying Coronavirus Deliberations Withholds Critical Information from Americans
(Washington, DC) – The classification of coronavirus response meetings and information by the White House constitutes a severe blow to the public’s right to know and ability to have… More
Threat to Arrest Those Who Spread Disinformation About Coronavirus Likely Unconstitutional
(New York) – On Tuesday, the public safety director of Newark, New Jersey warned that people who spread disinformation about the coronavirus could be criminally prosecuted. PEN America’s Nora… More
A Coronavirus Update from PEN America
As the world faces a global health crisis, we at PEN America are encountering uncharted territory. More
Free Speech 2020: An Interview with Cecile Richards
PEN America asked Cecile Richards to talk about what freedom of speech and expression mean to her, what freedom of speech and expression mean in 2020 specifically, and the… More
Five Ways Political Campaigns Can Combat Online Disinformation in 2020
As the 2020 election approaches, disinformation tactics from both domestic and foreign actors are already underway. The intelligence community warned in late 2019 that foreign efforts have only grown… More
In Washington, D.C., Oleg Sentsov Advocates for Release of Ukrainian Political Prisoners
“Hundreds remain held in inhumane, impossible conditions in Russia and the occupied territories. Most of these prisoners are Crimean-Tatars put in jail for no reason other than their vocal… More
Free Speech 2020: An Interview with Mira Jacob
PEN America sat down with author and illustrator Mira Jacob to talk about what freedom of speech and expression mean to her as a writer and teacher, the value… More
Proposed Travel Ban Expansion Reprehensible Blow to Free Flow of Ideas
(New York, NY) – The Trump administration's announcement Friday that it will expand its travel ban, placing new visa restrictions on individuals from six additional countries, is a reprehensible blow… More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
US is following #China on #COVID19 in more ways than one: Seattle Hospital reportedly fires doctor for critical social media posts about lacking equipment. We need our health workers to be able to speak out without fearing reprisal. https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/489969-doctor-who-criticized-hospitals-measures-against-coronavirus-is
NEW: Add some poetry to your weekend as Pulitzer-winner Gregory @Pardlo reads Carrie Fountain's poem "The Jungle" for us on this special bonus episode of #thePENpod. https://bit.ly/2xy6noA
Poets @luisjrodriguez @matthewzapruder #sheilablack @chiwanchoi @ashakijackson @ilya_poet #katieford @fdouglasbrown share their favorite #poetry collections to calm and anchor us to the world in our current moment.
https://bit.ly/2UMEhya