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Advocacy


  • Joint Congressional Letter on Journalists Endangered by Shutdown of U.S. Agency for Global Media

    Tuesday April 1

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  • The image shows the North Dakota State Capitol building, a tall structure with rectangular windows, set against a clear blue sky. In the foreground, a sign reads North Dakota Capitol surrounded by well-manicured lawns and trees.

    PEN America’s Testimony Against North Dakota Tenure Bill

    Wednesday March 12

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  • A person with short dark hair and glasses is standing indoors, wearing a dark jacket over a checkered shirt. The background includes a door with glass panels.

    Raising Our Voices for Le Huu Minh Tuan: PEN America’s Delegation to Washington, D.C.

    Tuesday March 11
    Anh-Thu Vo

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Banned Books

  • Two smiling women, one hugging the other from behind, sit next to the cover of the book “Autoboyography” by Christina Lauren, which depicts two figures standing on an open book against a starry sky.

    Lauren Billings and Christina Hobbs: ‘We write romance for ourselves, for each other, and for readers’

    Friday April 25

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  • A collage of diverse childrens book covers with themes of inclusivity and LGBTQ+ representation. Titles include Pride Puppy, What are Your Words?, Uncle Bobbys Wedding, and Jacobs Room to Choose.

    Authors and Illustrators Respond to Oral Arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor

    Wednesday April 23

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  • Illustrated book cover for Love, Violet by Charlotte Sullivan Wild, showing a girl in a purple coat and hat holding a heart-shaped card, while another girl in a blue coat and yellow hat stands nearby. A Stonewall Book Award sticker is on the cover.

    ‘All I want is for children to know they belong’: Charlotte Sullivan Wild on writing books children can see themselves in

    Friday April 18
    AJ Connelly

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Campus Free Speech

  • A woman with long dark hair stands outdoors, wearing a white knit top and jeans. She is smiling with a blurred cityscape and greenery in the background.

    ‘Fraught’ Frontiers for Student Press Freedom Day 2025

    Wednesday February 26
    Nicholas Perez

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  • A college campus with a brick building, trees, and walkways under a blue sky. In bold red letters, DEI Events Canceled is stamped across the image.

    ‘This Conference Has Been Canceled’:  The Impact of Trump’s War on ‘DEI’

    Friday February 14
    Kristen Shahverdian

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  • Harvard library protests

    A Riddle for Modern Academia: Where Can Studying Get You Suspended?

    Monday February 10
    Kristen Shahverdian, Aileen Lambert

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Disinformation

  • Collage titled Exploring How to Build Community-Level Resilience Against Disinformation with images of events in Texas, Florida, and Arizona. Each photo shows people gathered for discussions or presentations on the topic.

    Fighting a Global Problem Through a Local Lens

    Friday March 28
    Michelle Beaver

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  • Smartphone displaying an Instagram post about Violencia Política, describing it as harassment, threats, intimidation in public life. The phone rests on a laptop keyboard.

    How one newsroom battled political violence and opened spaces for dialogue

    Friday February 14
    Maritza L. Félix

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  • 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

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Educational Censorship


  • “Return on Investment” is a Red Herring

    Monday May 5
    Clare Carter

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  • A Pledge to Our Democracy: The Champions of Higher Education

    Tuesday April 22

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  • A majestic, illuminated capitol building with a prominent dome stands at dusk. The structure features columns and steps leading up to the entrance, with trees flanking both sides, under a clear, darkening sky.

    Wait, What Just Happened in Idaho? A Wake-Up Call for Higher Ed

    Monday April 14
    Clare Carter

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Florida


  • Coalition led by PEN Florida lobbies in Tallahassee to undo the harms of censorship

    Wednesday March 19

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  • A scenic beach image with tall palm trees and a city skyline in the background. The text on the image reads, PEN America Floridas Legislative Priorities 2025.

    PEN America Florida’s Legislative Priorities 2025

    Monday March 10

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  • United Voices for Democracy Summit

    Free Expression and the Threat of Christian Nationalism in Florida and Beyond

    Friday January 24
    Sophia Brown

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Gala


  • Paul Simon’s Remarks Accepting the 2024 PEN/Audible Literary Service Award

    Tuesday May 21

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  • Georgia Election Workers Remarks at the 2024 PEN America Literary Gala

    Tuesday May 21

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  • Phạm Đoan Trang Acceptance Speech | 2024 Freedom to Write Award

    Tuesday May 21

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Global Free Expression


  • Joint Letter to US Secretary of State for Vietnam Human Rights Day

    Tuesday May 6

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  • A large crowd gathers in front of an ornate white building with multiple turrets. A colorful stage is set up with performers and intricate decorations. The sky is clear, indicating a sunny day. Trees and banners add to the festive atmosphere.

    Release of Myanmar Filmmaker An Essential Step in the Battle for Free Expression

    Friday April 11
    Anh-Thu Vo

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  • Joint Congressional Letter on Journalists Endangered by Shutdown of U.S. Agency for Global Media

    Tuesday April 1

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Literary Awards

  • A collage of book covers, each showcasing diverse designs and titles, forms the backdrop. Overlay text reads 61st Annual Literary Awards Ceremony: The Oscars for Books in bold, elegant font.

    Announcing the 2025 PEN America Literary Awards Winners

    Friday May 9

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  • Book cover for Best Debut Short Stories 2025 with colorful abstract shapes. Text lists editors Kendall Storey and Elizabeth Pankova, and judges. A gold PEN America Literary Award winner badge appears to the right.

    Twelve Emerging Writers To Receive 2025 PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize

    Friday April 25

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  • Michael Heim’s Choice: A Letter from Michael Kerr to the Translation Community

    Friday April 18

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Literary Community

  • A diverse group of people socializing at an indoor gathering. There are colorful decorations and artwork on the walls. Attendees stand and chat in small groups, holding drinks and mingling around tables.

    Literary Salons in Washington: Havens of Hope in Fraught Times 

    Monday April 14

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  • ‘I’m Glad You Are Here’: Black-Owned Bookstores Share Passion for Community

    Tuesday February 25

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  • Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Reading List

    Monday May 17

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Literary Programs

  • Four people sit on stage in front of an audience, engaging in a panel discussion. A screen behind them reads For the Love of Books, and several titles, including works by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, are displayed on the table between them.

    2025 PEN World Voices Festival: On Censorship in American Theater

    Thursday May 1
    Lisa Tolin

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  • Four speakers sit on stage in front of a sign reading PEN America World Voices Festival, engaging in a lively panel discussion with an audience watching. Colorful book-like shapes decorate the background.

    2025 PEN World Voices Festival Opening Night: The PEN and the State

    Thursday May 1
    Lisa Tolin

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  • A man in glasses and a suit speaks into a microphone against a blue background with blurred white text, celebrating the World Voices Festival 20th Anniversary.

    For the Love of Books: 20 Years of the PEN World Voices Festival

    Monday April 28
    Lisa Tolin

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Membership


  • Sarah Tomlinson: Ghostwriting, Los Angeles, and the Power of Rock & Roll

    Wednesday February 19
    Ayana O’Brien

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  • Five portraits of individuals for the 2024 Annual General Meeting with text: The State of the Nation, the State of Free Expression by PEN America.

    The State of the Nation, the State of Free Expression: PEN America Annual General Meeting Focuses on Unity Against Threats

    Wednesday January 8

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  • A collage of various book covers displayed at different angles. The covers feature diverse designs, colors, and illustrations, with titles in bold typography.

    A Year of Books By PEN America Members 2024

    Thursday December 19

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Online Abuse & Digital Safety

  • Text graphic with Journalist Safety in blue and Urgent Care Helpline in black. Background features lined paper and a hand holding a pen, suggesting a theme related to writing or journalism.

    Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline Responds to Growing Threats

    Monday March 24

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  • Four people participating in a virtual meeting. A Journalism Institute banner is visible in one participants background. They are engaged, with some using gestures. Books and office materials are in the background.

    What are My Digital Protections? How to Handle (and Prevent) Online Threats as a Journalist

    Monday January 6

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  • Protecting Your Digital Footprint: A Guide for Journalists

    Wednesday August 28
    Viktorya Vilk, Amanda Wells, Malka Margolies

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Organizational

  • A woman in a red dress speaks at a podium labeled PEN America Literary Awards on a stage decorated with flowers.

    PEN America Speaks: How We Defended And Celebrated Free Expression the Week Of May 5

    Friday May 9

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  • Four speakers sit on stage in front of a sign reading PEN America World Voices Festival, engaging in a lively panel discussion with an audience watching. Colorful book-like shapes decorate the background.

    PEN America Speaks: How We Defended And Celebrated Free Expression the Week Of April 28

    Friday May 2

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  • A man in glasses and a suit speaks into a microphone against a blue background with blurred white text, celebrating the World Voices Festival 20th Anniversary.

    For the Love of Books: 20 Years of the PEN World Voices Festival

    Monday April 28
    Lisa Tolin

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Press Freedom

  • A sign displaying the Associated Press (AP) logo and the words THE ASSOCIATED PRESS on a wall. Editorial credit: Kevin Hackert / Shutterstock.com.

    The White House Is Choosing Its Own Press Pool. 5 Reasons That Should Alarm You.

    Monday April 28
    Timothy Richardson, Viktorya Vilk

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  • Local LGBTQ+ Reporters in Conversation: Jason Parsley

    Thursday June 17

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  • Local LGBTQ+ Reporters in Conversation: Darian Aaron

    Wednesday June 16

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Prison and Justice Writing

  • Cover of Verse Among Us: A NaPoWriMo Zine by PEN America. It features a colorful quilt pattern. The background is half red and half yellow, with a black and gold pen to the side and a sketched butterfly in the corner.

    Introducing Verse Among Us: A National Poetry Writing Month Zine

    Tuesday April 1
    Jess Abolafia

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  • Announcing the 2024 PEN America/L’Engle Rahman Prize for Mentorship Honorees

    Wednesday March 26

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  • The red and blue graphic for the 2023 Pen America Prison Writing Awards showcases categories like Poetry, Fiction, Essay, Memoir, and Drama. It features imaginative elements such as a butterfly, ticket stubs, a pen, and a city skyline silhouette.

    PEN America Prison Writing Award Winners: 2024

    Wednesday October 30

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Resource


  • #FactChallenge: Media Literacy Course on WhatsApp Leading up to the 2024 Elections

    Friday June 7

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  • Morgan Talty recommends what you should read for Native American Heritage Month

    Tuesday November 21

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  • Native American Heritage Month – Reading List by Oscar Hokeah

    Friday November 17

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Translation


  • Michael Heim’s Choice: A Letter from Michael Kerr to the Translation Community

    Friday April 18

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  • Books, Roses, and Food: Sant Jordi Festival Celebrates Translation in New York

    Tuesday March 18
    Aleah Gatto

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  • Response To Letter Regarding Pen/Heim Translation Fund Grants

    Wednesday July 17

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U.S. Free Expression

  • A sign under a metal awning reads “NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIO WUNC.” A green sign shows Washington Bay 6. Brick buildings and greenery are visible in the background.

    Defunding public media will hit rural communities in the US hardest

    Wednesday May 7
    AJ Connelly

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  • Why Journalists Must Band Together to Defend the First Amendment

    Tuesday May 6
    Brett G. Johnson

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  • “Return on Investment” is a Red Herring

    Monday May 5
    Clare Carter

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World Voices Festival

  • Three people sit on stage having a discussion; two women and one man face an audience, while a fourth woman appears on a large screen behind them. A sign reads PEN America World Voices Festival.

    2025 PEN World Voices Festival Closing Night: Journalism Under Siege

    Friday May 9

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  • Four people sit on stage in front of an audience, engaging in a panel discussion. A screen behind them reads For the Love of Books, and several titles, including works by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, are displayed on the table between them.

    2025 PEN World Voices Festival: On Censorship in American Theater

    Thursday May 1
    Lisa Tolin

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  • Four speakers sit on stage in front of a sign reading PEN America World Voices Festival, engaging in a lively panel discussion with an audience watching. Colorful book-like shapes decorate the background.

    2025 PEN World Voices Festival Opening Night: The PEN and the State

    Thursday May 1
    Lisa Tolin

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Writer Opportunities

  • A collage of seven people smiling outdoors in different settings, some with greenery in the background. They each have unique hairstyles and are wearing casual clothing.

    ‘This Thing You’re Doing Is Worth It’: Rising Fiction Stars Celebrate PEN/Dau Prize

    Thursday January 23

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  • A collage of various book covers displayed at different angles. The covers feature diverse designs, colors, and illustrations, with titles in bold typography.

    A Year of Books By PEN America Members 2024

    Thursday December 19

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  • 2024 Free Expression Essay Competition Winners

    Monday July 15

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Writers


  • Sarah Tomlinson: Ghostwriting, Los Angeles, and the Power of Rock & Roll

    Wednesday February 19
    Ayana O’Brien

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  • Five portraits of individuals for the 2024 Annual General Meeting with text: The State of the Nation, the State of Free Expression by PEN America.

    The State of the Nation, the State of Free Expression: PEN America Annual General Meeting Focuses on Unity Against Threats

    Wednesday January 8

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Writers at Risk

  • A large crowd gathers in front of an ornate white building with multiple turrets. A colorful stage is set up with performers and intricate decorations. The sky is clear, indicating a sunny day. Trees and banners add to the festive atmosphere.

    Release of Myanmar Filmmaker An Essential Step in the Battle for Free Expression

    Friday April 11
    Anh-Thu Vo

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  • Joint Congressional Letter on Journalists Endangered by Shutdown of U.S. Agency for Global Media

    Tuesday April 1

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  • Two people are seated in a bookstore during an event. One holds a microphone, wearing a hat and striped shirt. The other has a notebook, wearing glasses and a blue shirt. A Pen America banner and bookshelves are visible in the background.

    You Must Take Part in Revolution: What a Story of Chinese Censorship Can Teach Americans Now

    Wednesday March 26

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Writing as Craft

  • A person with short hair, glasses, and a hand resting on their chin is shown next to the book cover for So Many Stars by Caro de Robertis. The book highlights trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, and two-spirit people of color.

    ‘We Exist’: Caro De Robertis’ New Book Is a Collection of Oral Histories of 20 Gender-Diverse Elders

    Thursday May 8
    Aleah Gatto

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  • A woman in a gray beanie and puffer jacket stands in front of a red circle. Next to her is the book cover for Fireweed by Lauren Haidab, featuring red plants on a vibrant pink background.

    ‘Society Values Those Women Less’: Lauren Haddad’s Debut Novel Takes on Tough Truths

    Thursday May 1
    Aleah Gatto

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  • Two smiling women, one hugging the other from behind, sit next to the cover of the book “Autoboyography” by Christina Lauren, which depicts two figures standing on an open book against a starry sky.

    Lauren Billings and Christina Hobbs: ‘We write romance for ourselves, for each other, and for readers’

    Friday April 25

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