New York, April 1, 2009—The House of Representatives yesterday passed the 2009 Free Flow of Information Act by voice vote, taking a firm step towards federally protecting journalists who refuse to reveal their sources. PEN is now turning its attention to the Senate, where a similar bill is being debated.

PEN American Center is the largest of the 145 centers of International PEN, the world’s oldest human rights organization and the oldest international literary organization. PEN’s Campaign for Core Freedoms works to: protect personal privacy; preserve public access to information and a full range of voices from the United States and around the world; and promote policies that reflect a core commitment to human rights. For more information on the campaign, please visit www.pen.org/corefreedoms

Larry Siems, (212) 334-1660 ext. 105