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How We’re Fighting Censorship: Author and Creator Support

Learn more about programming that’s available to Penguin Random House authors.

How We’re Fighting Censorship: Author and Creator Support

See more of what we’re doing to support the fight against book bans and learn how you can help here.

Our goal is to create books for everyone by connecting our authors’ invaluable stories, ideas, and perspectives with readers everywhere. In addition to spearheading ongoing legal action and supporting educators, librarians, students, and parents, we want to ensure that authors whose books are being banned – and those who feel called to join the fight – have the support, resources, and information they need to help protect the freedom to read. 

In addition to providing financial support to PEN America, an organization on the forefront of defending writers against censorship, below is some of the work that we’re doing to support our authors and creators. 

Author Newsletter: We communicate updates to our more than 14,000 registered Penguin Random House authors via a dedicated newsletter. Penguin Random House authors can sign up through the Author Portal.

Author University x PEN Summer Series: 

We’ve hosted training sessions on the below topics through our Author University program, in partnership with PEN Summer Series. 

  • Book Bans & Disinformation Town Hall: In classrooms, school districts, and libraries across the country, the freedom to read is under assault by restrictions and bans on books. In this session, PEN America recaps the current book banning crisis and discusses how authors can take action and make their voices heard. This session is available to Penguin Random House authors through the Author Portal.
  • Online Abuse Self-Defense Training: This session equips writers and journalists, as well as their allies and employers, with practical tools and strategies to defend against online abuse. Taking a holistic approach to digital safety, we talk about how to prepare, respond, take care of yourself, and support others.
  • Allyship and Bystander Training: Abusive trolls are joining forces to disproportionately target authors and illustrators – especially those who identify as women, LGBTQ+, or BIPOC – to intimidate, discredit, and silence. Each and every one of us can be an ally. PEN and Right to Be host this interactive training where they offer the tools you need to intervene safely and effectively when you witness online abuse using Right to Be’s 5Ds of bystander intervention. 

All Penguin Random House authors and creators can stay up-to-date and enroll in future sessions via the Author Newsletter.