Company Directory - PEN America
Company Details - PEN America
PEN America
WebsiteNew York, United States
PEN America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending free expression and supporting literature. The organization engages in advocacy work, supports writers, and defends diverse artistic voices, while also facing controversies related to its stance on pro-Palestinian voices.
CCI Score
CCI Score: PEN America
28.57
-0.02%
Latest Event
PEN America Boycott Controversy and Leadership Failure
A boycott campaign emerged in response to PEN America's failure to defend Palestinian writers and its alleged complicity in normalizing pro-Israel policies. This controversy has led to widespread event cancellations, significant staff turnover, and a shake-up in leadership, reflecting deep ethical and political missteps.
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DISSENTER
PEN America is currently rated as a Dissenter.
Latest Events
- MAR032025
A boycott campaign emerged in response to PEN America's failure to defend Palestinian writers and its alleged complicity in normalizing pro-Israel policies. This controversy has led to widespread event cancellations, significant staff turnover, and a shake-up in leadership, reflecting deep ethical and political missteps.
-70
Public and Political Behavior
March 22
PEN America's tepid and inconsistent response to violence against Palestinian writers, along with their engagement with pro-establishment political figures, undermines its foundational commitment to free expression. This behavior damages public trust and aligns with authoritarian interests, reflecting a profound failure in public and political behavior.
-60
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
March 22
The article highlights internal governance failures at PEN America, including unfulfilled promises of accountability and manipulated award processes. These actions suggest significant ethical lapses in business practices, undermining the organization’s credibility and commitment to the principles of free expression.
PEN America: The Freedom to Lie — WRITERS AGAINST THE WAR ON GAZA
- MAR032025
A coalition of writers and advocacy groups launched a boycott against PEN America for its failure to adequately address the genocide in Palestine and for practices that undermine free expression. The organization has been accused of censoring dissent, misdirecting funds, and engaging in leadership maneuvers that align more with political expediency than with its stated commitment to literary freedom.
-68
Public and Political Behavior
March 22
The article highlights PEN America’s problematic conduct in suppressing dissent and misrepresenting its stance on free speech. The organization's actions—including the cancellation of literary awards, redirection of prize funds, forced removal of protestors, and a leadership that appears more aligned with state-side political interests than with a genuine commitment to free expression—reflect behaviors that can be associated with authoritarian practices. This conduct, by undermining robust debate and accountability, contributes to the normalization of oppressive political dynamics.
PEN America: The Freedom to Lie — WRITERS AGAINST THE WAR ON GAZA
- OCT232024
PEN America, in partnership with Magna Charta Observatory, is co-sponsoring a major international event at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center to address government restrictions on academic freedom in the United States. This event underscores their commitment to defending democratic values and resisting authoritarian encroachments on educational institutions.
+80
Public and Political Behavior
March 22
By co-sponsoring an international convening that highlights and challenges government-imposed restrictions on academic freedom, PEN America demonstrates robust public and political engagement. Their actions serve as a strong defense against authoritarian influence in academia, promoting democratic discourse and safeguarding intellectual freedom.
- OCT152024
PEN America released a detailed analysis of Project 2025, outlining how its proposals—ranging from explicit censorship in federal documents to the defunding of independent media outlets and calls for banning major social platforms—pose serious threats to free expression and democratic accountability.
+85
Public and Political Behavior
March 22
PEN America's analysis robustly defends free expression and underscores the dangers of cementing authoritarian censorship. Their public stance against policies that target foundational rights evidences strong engagement in safeguarding democratic discourse.
+80
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
March 22
The organization demonstrates ethical responsibility by challenging proposals that undermine democratic norms and free expression. PEN America's commitment to transparent advocacy highlights its dedication to counter prejudiced policies.
+75
Technology and Services Impact
March 22
The critique addresses significant technological concerns, notably the proposal to ban widely-used platforms like TikTok. By defending digital platforms as critical to free expression, PEN America actively champions the role of technology in sustaining open communication.
+70
Economic and Structural Influence
March 22
Through its advocacy, PEN America supports the maintenance of economic structures that fund independent media and cultural sectors. Its stance against defunding public broadcasters reflects a commitment to preserving essential democratic institutions from authoritarian economic reengineering.
- SEP122024
PEN America released a white paper criticizing Project 2025's proposals, which threaten free expression and academic freedom in public education. The organization’s analysis highlights the dangerous implications of state-sanctioned censorship, particularly targeting topics like race, LGBTQ+ rights, and parental control in schools.
+80
Public and Political Behavior
March 22
PEN America's proactive public stance against authoritarian censorship in education underscores their commitment to defending free expression and democratic values. By issuing a comprehensive white paper that challenges policies designed to suppress critical debate and marginalize diverse perspectives, they earn a strong positive score in Public and Political Behavior.
As Project 2025 Takes Aim at Public Education Nationwide, PEN America Sounds An Alarm
+75
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
March 22
By documenting and exposing proposals that would restrict academic discourse and marginalize dissenting views, PEN America upholds high standards of ethical responsibility. Their work in ensuring transparency and protecting free expression reflects a commitment to countering authoritarian policies in the educational and cultural sectors.
As Project 2025 Takes Aim at Public Education Nationwide, PEN America Sounds An Alarm
- SEP122024
PEN America's analysis of Project 2025 exposes a series of proposals by the Heritage Foundation aimed at instating federal censorship in education, including book bans, ideological restrictions, and dismantling protective regulatory frameworks. The report argues that these proposals, which threaten academic freedom and free expression, represent a dangerous shift towards authoritarian control in the U.S.
+90
Public and Political Behavior
September 12
PEN America's report robustly defends free expression by critically analyzing Project 2025, a set of proposals that would impose federal censorship, dismantle academic safeguards, and promote ideologically driven controls in education. This proactive stance against authoritarian policy proposals reflects a strong commitment to democratic values and the preservation of free speech, earning a high positive score in the Public and Political Behavior category.
- APR222024
PEN America has cancelled its annual awards ceremony following significant pushback from authors and activists over its response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Critics argued that the organization's delayed and tepid measures, including a modest emergency fund for Palestinian writers, failed to live up to its mission to defend free expression and uphold ethical standards. In response, the nonprofit is forming a committee to review its practices from the past decade in a bid to realign its values and governance.
+10
Public and Political Behavior
March 22
PEN America's decision to cancel its awards ceremony, triggered by criticism over its handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, indicates an attempt at political accountability. The move, amid internal debates and public pressure, reflects tensions regarding whether its leadership sufficiently upholds the organization’s mission to defend free expression. While the cancellation may signal a willingness to address shortcomings, it also exposes the challenges in balancing political sensitivities with core organizational values.
PEN America calls off awards ceremony after nominees drop out over its response to Israel-Hamas war
+15
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
March 22
The formation of a committee to review PEN America's practices over the past decade, as well as the allocation of an emergency fund for Palestinian writers, points to a commitment to ethical responsibility and internal accountability. Although critics view these measures as insufficient, the initiative is a positive step towards reforming internal processes and ensuring that the organization better aligns with progressive and anti-authoritarian values.
PEN America calls off awards ceremony after nominees drop out over its response to Israel-Hamas war
- FEB072024
In early February 2024, PEN America faced sharp criticism from a coalition of writers and literary professionals for its measured and arguably insufficient response to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Critics argue that the organization's reluctance to take a strong stand against human rights abuses, as evidenced by a conciliatory press release and its controversial event featuring figures with contentious views, reflects a problematic approach to defending free expression in the context of escalating international human rights crises.
-40
Public and Political Behavior
March 22
PEN America's press release and overall stance have been criticized as insufficiently forceful in condemning human rights abuses during the Israel-Gaza conflict. The moderate language used and the decision to feature controversial figures, such as Mayim Bialik, have led prominent writers to argue that the organization fails to meet its mission of robust advocacy for free expression and human rights. This perceived reluctance indirectly supports narratives that could embolden authoritarian practices by muting necessary condemnations of state violence.
Open letter criticising PEN America's stance on Israel-Gaza war reaches 500 signatories
- OCT102023
PEN America expressed strong support for the Stop Transnational Repression Act, a bill aimed at holding foreign governments accountable for repressing political dissidents residing in the United States. By endorsing this legislation, PEN America reinforces its commitment to safeguarding free expression and opposing authoritarian practices.
+80
Public and Political Behavior
March 22
PEN America's public endorsement of the Stop Transnational Repression Act demonstrates a proactive stance against foreign government repression and authoritarian practices. This commitment to defending free expression and holding oppressive regimes accountable aligns with anti-fascist values, positioning the organization positively on Public and Political Behavior.
- FEB282023
PEN America voiced a strong denunciation against a proposed Georgian law that would give the government unfettered investigatory and monitoring powers over civil society and news organizations. This action underscores their commitment to defending free expression and civil liberties in the face of authoritarian measures.
+80
Public and Political Behavior
March 22
PEN America, recognized for defending free expression, actively condemned the proposed Georgian law that threatens civil society and press freedoms. By challenging measures that mirror repressive authoritarian practices, they uphold democratic values and resist state overreach, marking their public and political behavior as strongly pro-democracy.
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