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].
At a time of unprecedented attacks against the free press, PEN America Members are taking action. Join us today.
UNITED STATES: Arrest of Reporter Dan Heyman in West Virginia an Egregious Overreaction
NEW YORK—The May 9 arrest of Dan Heyman, a Public News Service reporter, at the West Virginia State Capitol after he repeatedly tried to ask Health and Human Services… More
PEN America Launches Campaign to Free Ukrainian Writer and Filmmaker Oleg Sentsov
Chimamanda Adichie, Trevor Noah, and other creative allies joined PEN America in a letter calling on Rex Tillerson to press for the immediate release of Oleg Sentsov. More
China: New Regulations Increase Control over Both Internet and Media
Recently-released Chinese internet regulations represent the Chinese Communist Party’s newest attempt to assert control over both the media and the internet. More
Conviction of Code Pink Protesters Raises Serious First Amendment Concerns
The conviction of three Code Pink activists in a D.C. court this week for “disrupting” Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ confirmation hearing raises serious concerns for free expression and the… More
Overbroad South Carolina “Anti-Semitism” Bill Offends Free Speech, Makes Same Mistake as Federal Legislation
A proposed South Carolina bill that would require the state to adopt a federal definition of anti-Semitism that encompasses criticism of the state of Israel offends the First Amendment. More
Russian Authorities Must Investigate Murder of Journalist Nikolai Andrushchenko
It is the urgent moral responsibility of Russian authorities to thoroughly investigate the murder of journalist Nikolai Andrushchenko, PEN America said in a statement today. More
MYANMAR: PEN Myanmar Finds Significant Shortfall In Free Expression Reform Promises
YANGON—As Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) celebrates one year in office, a civil society coalition led by PEN Myanmar noted a significant lack of progress… More
In Trump’s First 100 Days, A Barrage of Near-Daily Incidents Undermining the Press
PEN America clocks more than 70 separate instances where President Trump or senior Administration officials have taken potshots at the press. More
Maldives: Investigate murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed
The brutal murder of Maldivian blogger Yameen Rasheed this weekend must be investigated to the fullest extent of the law, PEN America said in a statement today. More
PEN America Annual Literary Gala Honors Stephen Sondheim, The Women’s March, and Imprisoned Ukrainian Filmmaker Oleg Sentsov
New York’s literary community gathered Tuesday night at the 2017 PEN America Literary Gala to honor master composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, Macmillan CEO John Sargent, The Women’s March,… More