Press Releases
PEN America experts are available for interviews with the press. Please direct inquiries to Suzanne Trimel, Senior Advisor, Communications and Media, at [email protected].
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PEN America to Honor Edmund White, Edna O’Brien for Lifetime Achievement in Literature at February 20 Ceremony in New York
PEN America announced today that it will honor legendary author and LGBT cultural pioneer Edmund White with the annual PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction, and Irish… More
Bail Denied as Myanmar Authorities Begin Case Against Detained Reuters Journalists
"The use of archaic colonial laws to detain and charge Wa Lone and Moe Aung is a blatant attempt to punish investigative journalism and intrepid reporting. These charges are an absurd attack on… More
Order to Release Ravi Ragbir Does Not Mark End of His Ordeal or of Trump Administration’s Efforts to Silence Immigrants’ Rights Activists
The detention and deportation (or threat thereof) of immigrants’ rights activists under the Trump administration have raised serious concerns that those targeted are being punished for their speech and… More
Attacks Against Russian Group an Outrageous Assault on Human Rights and the Freedom to Report
Kadyrov’s threats and the attacks on Memorial’s offices underscore the context behind Oyub Titiev’s arrest. It is impossible to conclude anything other than that his arrest is an attempt… More
2018 PEN America Literary Awards Finalists Offer Literary Lens on Human Experience
The Literary Awards celebrate some of the greatest fruits of free expression—stories that inspire, spark empathy, and change minds. At a time when the fabric of our discourse is… More
Turkish Constitutional Court’s Ruling Ignored as Mehmet Altan Remains in Detention
The failure of the judiciary to uphold the rulings of the Constitutional Court is a transgression of Mehmet Altan’s intrinsic rights, and calls into question the independence of the… More
Seizure of Publisher Gui Minhai an Outrageous Violation of Human Rights and the Rule of Law in China
China’s treatment of Gui Minhai demonstrates flagrant disregard for the rule of law and human rights. Their reported claims that Gui has been sharing ‘secret information’ with Swedish diplomats… More
Peaceful J20 Protesters Should Never Have Been Arrested
"This is certainly positive news, but these charges shouldn't have been brought in the first place, and 129 innocent lives have been upended. These peaceful protesters should never have… More
Order to Revoke License of News Outlet Critical of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte a Direct Attack on Press Freedom
This attack by an administration that has repeatedly demonstrated hostility toward the press is a blatant attempt to silence journalists at a time when Filipinos desperately need rigorous reporting.… More
Gov. Cuomo’s Announcement on Directive 4911A Welcome News for Inmates’ Right to Read
We welcome Governor Cuomo’s announcement, and hope that he, as well as officials within the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, will take this moment to… More