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Supporting Journalists

Supporting Journalists

PEN America defends journalists against abuse, fights the spread of disinformation, and supports local journalism.

Journalists uphold democracy by providing essential information about what’s happening in our communities and holding the powerful to account. But they’re facing growing threats, online and off. By supporting journalists and championing fact-based reporting, PEN America is working to defend free speech and democracy.

Defend Yourself and Your Writing

PEN America defends journalists facing online abuse.

Online Harassment Field Manual Online Abuse Defense Training Digital Safety Resources
Text-based image with a paper background. The blue and black text reads Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline. A hand holding a pen is positioned in the bottom right corner.

Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline

If you’re a U.S.-based journalist or news outlet concerned about safety or under attack for your work, you are not alone. We’re here to help. If you need help now, email us with the word “SAFETY” in the subject line.

Email us

The Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline provides U.S. journalists and news outlets with one-on-one safety consults for digital, physical, psychosocial, and legal concerns—from dealing with doxing, threats, and arrests to preparing for risky assignments. The initiative is a collaboration among the Knight Election Hub, PEN America’s digital safety team, leading safety advisors Jeje Mohamed, Yemile Bucay, and Ramy Ghaly, and five journalist safety organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Women’s Media Foundation, Freedom of the Press Foundation, Aegis Safety Alliance, and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Facts Forward: Helping Journalists Fight Disinformation

PEN America has developed resources to help journalists detect, monitor, and report on disinformation and build greater trust with their communities. 

Learn more

Facts Forward Interview Series

This series features journalists and experts with extensive experience in navigating political and other forms of disinformation in order to provide best practices, insights into how to identify and counter disinformation, case studies, and other tips from practitioners.

  • Black and white image of a person with short hair, wearing earrings and a dark top. Abstract shapes in red, white, and black are overlaid. A decorative background with cut-out patterns is visible.

    Curiosity is key for overcoming conflict and disinformation, author says

    Tuesday February 11
    Kurt Sampsel
    Read More
  • Smartphone screen displaying the ChatGPT webpage in a browser, with the OpenAI logo blurred in the background. Editorial credit to T. Schneider of Shutterstock.

    Is fear around AI overblown? Here’s what worries experts, according to a Wall Street Journal reporter.

    Thursday February 6
    Mina Haq
    Read More
  • Two people are smiling in a black and white photo collage with creative colored shapes. The person on the left has curly hair, and the person on the right has long hair with bangs and glasses. Large quotation marks are overlaid in the center.

    For the Truth in Journalism Project, facts are necessary – but not sufficient – in the fight against disinformation

    Monday January 27
    Kurt Sampsel
    Read More

View all Facts Forward Interviews >>

Research & Reports

PEN America’s research on disinformation and online abuse can help journalists fight for truths.

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Advocating for Writers at Risk Globally

Freedom to Write Index 2023

PEN America tracks the countries and regimes most often endangering writers and other public intellectuals whose work challenges their rule. More >>

Writers at Risk Database

A searchable catalog of the writers, journalists, artists, academics, and public intellectuals under threat around the world. More >>

View more resources >>

Our Experts