PEN America Launches US Safety Program for Authors Facing Harassment
PEN America has announced the launch of the U.S. Safety Program, a new initiative designed to protect authors, illustrators, and translators from increasing harassment and threats. This program emerges in response to a growing wave of censorship efforts and abuse targeting the literary community across the United States. Collaborating with major publishers and literary agencies, including Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, and Penguin Random House, PEN America aims to provide safety training and essential resources to writers. The organization has raised nearly $1 million to support these efforts, with additional funds generated through upcoming auctions of character names by prominent authors like Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Egan. Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, co-CEO of PEN America, emphasized that writers should not have to choose between their safety and their voice. The initiative addresses both online abuse and physical threats at book events, reflecting a trend that has intensified over recent years. By building on previous digital safety workshops, the program seeks to mitigate risks for creators whose works, particularly those addressing LGBTQ+ themes or sensitive social issues, have become targets of controversy and hostility.
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PEN America Launches US Safety Program for Authors Facing Harassment
PEN America has announced the launch of the U.S. Safety Program, a new initiative designed to protect authors, illustrators, and translators from increasing harassment and threats. This program emerges in response to a growing wave of censorship efforts and abuse targeting the literary community across the United States. Collaborating with major publishers and literary agencies, including Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, and Penguin Random House, PEN America aims to provide safety training and essential resources to writers. The organization has raised nearly $1 million to support these efforts, with additional funds generated through upcoming auctions of character names by prominent authors like Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Egan. Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, co-CEO of PEN America, emphasized that writers should not have to choose between their safety and their voice. The initiative addresses both online abuse and physical threats at book events, reflecting a trend that has intensified over recent years. By building on previous digital safety workshops, the program seeks to mitigate risks for creators whose works, particularly those addressing LGBTQ+ themes or sensitive social issues, have become targets of controversy and hostility.
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