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: Senate Resolution to Preserve and Protect Local News Supports a Vital Sector for a Thriving Democracy
Nadine Farid Johnson, PEN America’s Washington director, said: “A strong local news sector is a key tenet of democracy. The decline of local news in recent years threatens to… More
PEN America to Honor Florida High School Activist Jack Petocz for Organizing Book Ban and ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Protests Statewide
PEN America Chief Executive Officer Suzanne Nossel said, “The state of Florida has declared war on free speech through a series of measures aimed squarely to suppress expression. Jack… More
PEN America: Los Angeles Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation of LA Times Reporter for a Factual News Story is a “Grave Abuse of Authority”
PEN America stated: "To respond to an alleged act of police brutality with an attempt to criminalize an act of factual news reporting represents a grave abuse of authority… More
PEN America CEO on Musk Deal to Buy Twitter: Rules for Content Moderation on Social Media Cannot be Swept Away Wholesale
PEN America Chief Executive Officer Suzanne Nossel made the following comment in response to news that Elon Musk will buy Twitter in a $44 billion deal: "Elon Musk will… More
Life Prison Sentence for Cultural Rights Activist Osman Kavala is a “Dark Moment” for Human Rights and Democracy in Turkey
“Today is a dark moment for Turkey. The life sentence handed down to Osman Kavala is a devastating and unjust blow, not only to him and his family, but… More
Alarm Over Reported Deportation of Nicaraguan Musician Leonardo Canales
“Canales’ arrest and deportation is yet another attack on the Nicaraguan creative community by the increasingly authoritarian regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo,” said Julie Trébault, Director of… More
New Bill Politicizing Libraries in Kentucky is a Massive Alarm Bell for the Freedom to Read
Summer Lopez, Senior Director of Free Expression programs at PEN America, stated: "Though often unheralded as such, public libraries are the beating heart of democracy, making access to the… More
$2 Million Gift from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Supports Emergency and Resilience Funds for Persecuted Artists Worldwide and Immediate Support to Artists in Crisis from the Ukraine War
Julie Trebault, Director of the Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) at PEN America, said: “Over the past two months, we have witnessed devastating attacks on the people of Ukraine… More
Imprisoned Ukraine Journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko To be Honored with 2022 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award May 23
"As the world stands in awe of the courage and determination of the Ukrainian people, we are proud to honor Vladyslav Yesypenko, whose career has stood for fearless truthtelling… More
Statement: Florida Rejection of Math Textbooks Raises Question Over Whether Politics Guided Decision
"The Florida Department of Education's rejection of 41 percent of math textbooks submitted to the state--including 71 percent of textbooks for grades K-5-- on the grounds that they include… More