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.
Trump Administration Plans to Abolish National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities Will Usher in New ‘Dark Ages’ in America
NEW YORK—In response to news this morning of Trump administration plans to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for Humanities, PEN America Executive Director… More
TEJU COLE BECOMES FIRST WRITER EVER TO BE NAMED FINALIST FOR TWO PEN AMERICA LITERARY AWARDS
PEN America announced the finalists today for its 2017 Literary Awards, including Teju Cole, who becomes the first writer in the award program’s 54-year history to be named a… More
Thousands in New York Pledge to Defend Press and Freedom of Speech Against Trump Administration
As Donald Trump and his team continue to insult journalists and disparage critical voices, more than 2,000 artists, writers, and readers gathered with PEN America today on the steps… More
PEN America Expresses Concern Over Recent Developments at PEN Russia
NEW YORK—PEN America stands in solidarity with Russian writers who share our ideals and those of the PEN Charter in strong defense of free expression and other human rights,… More
Trump’s “Thuggish” Treatment of Press Mirrors Authoritarian Regimes, says PEN America
President-elect Donald Trump’s criticism of journalists at his press conference today demonstrates utter contempt for the role of the media in an open democracy, PEN America said today. More
Imprisoned Turkish Journalist Denied Water for Three Days
The denial of drinking water to imprisoned Turkish journalist Ahmet Sik is another chilling example of Turkish authorities’ inability or refusal to meet prisoners’ basic needs following a dramatic… More
Writer Asli Erdoğan and Translator Necmiye Alpay Provisionally Released in Turkey
The release of prominent writer and journalist Asli Erdoğan and distinguished translator Necmiye Alpay today is cause for cautious optimism as their trial begins today, PEN America said in… More
Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer Re-Record Leonard Cohen Classic to Benefit PEN America
Author Neil Gaiman and musician Amanda Palmer have released a new arrangement of Leonard Cohen's raspy spoken word song "Democracy" to benefit PEN America's work to defend the freedom… More
RUSSIA: COURT TIGHTENS THE SENTENCE FOR BLOGGER ANDREY BUBEEV
The recent transfer of Russian blogger Andrey Bubeev to a penal colony with tougher conditions represents a continuation of the intimidation faced by independent journalists and bloggers in Russia,… More
Russian Blogger Sentenced to Two Years in Prison
Alexey Kungurov has been charged with criticizing Russia’s military operation in Syria More