Joan Detz
@joandetz.bsky.social
How To Write & Give A Speech, "A how-to classic" (Washington Post) Books translated into Chinese, Spanish+ #libraries #literacy #HTWGAS #CanYouSayAFewWords?
Reposted by Joan Detz
Congrats to Mary Rasenberger, @authorsguild.org CEO, on being named one of the 2025 "50 Most Influential People in IP" AND a "Publishers Weekly Notable Person of the Year.” Learn more about Mary's work!
PW Notables 2025: Mary Rasenberger
The Authors Guild CEO has been a leader in the fight against AI companies’ use of copyrighted materials without compensating authors, as well as the ongoing surge in book bans.
www.publishersweekly.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Congrats to Mary Rasenberger, @authorsguild.org CEO, on being named one of the 2025 "50 Most Influential People in IP" AND a "Publishers Weekly Notable Person of the Year.” Learn more about Mary's work!
Congrats to Mary Rasenberger, @authorsguild.org CEO, on being named one of the 2025 "50 Most Influential People in IP" AND a "Publishers Weekly Notable Person of the Year.” Learn more about Mary's work!
PW Notables 2025: Mary Rasenberger
The Authors Guild CEO has been a leader in the fight against AI companies’ use of copyrighted materials without compensating authors, as well as the ongoing surge in book bans.
www.publishersweekly.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:37 AM
Reposted by Joan Detz
Looking for a way to fight book censorship? Book Riot put together 60 of them!
60+ Small Tasks to Defend the Right to Read: Book Censorship News, January 9, 2026
No one is coming to save us, so we must do it ourselves. Here are 60+ small tasks to help defend the right to read in 2026 and beyond.
bookriot.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Looking for a way to fight book censorship? Book Riot put together 60 of them!
Reposted by Joan Detz
This should be major news: literally dozens of book bans in Canada today, because of a ministerial order by Alberta's provincial government. The titles are being withheld by the school districts... I think Canadians have a right to know what books are being banned in our public schools.
Today, Alberta's two biggest school divisions say dozens of books have been taken off shelves as the province's ban took effect this week.
34 titles were removed by the Edmonton Public School Division, and 44 were removed by the Calgary Board of Education:
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
34 titles were removed by the Edmonton Public School Division, and 44 were removed by the Calgary Board of Education:
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
Dozens of library books are removed from Alberta schools as new laws take effect
New policy requires schools to remove books containing explicit images or illustrations of sexual content
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:30 AM
This should be major news: literally dozens of book bans in Canada today, because of a ministerial order by Alberta's provincial government. The titles are being withheld by the school districts... I think Canadians have a right to know what books are being banned in our public schools.
Reposted by Joan Detz
Reposted by Joan Detz
PEN International is deeply alarmed by further deterioration of press freedom in Venezuela.
This week a wave of arbitrary detentions, intimidation, surveillance and censorship included the detention of at least 14 journalists and media workers in Caracas:
www.pen-international.org/news/venezue...
This week a wave of arbitrary detentions, intimidation, surveillance and censorship included the detention of at least 14 journalists and media workers in Caracas:
www.pen-international.org/news/venezue...
Venezuela: PEN International calls for urgent guarantees for press freedom — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide
“When journalists and writers are harassed, detained or deported for doing their work, the public’s right to information is undermined. PEN International condemns the arbitrary detention of journalist...
www.pen-international.org
January 9, 2026 at 8:36 PM
PEN International is deeply alarmed by further deterioration of press freedom in Venezuela.
This week a wave of arbitrary detentions, intimidation, surveillance and censorship included the detention of at least 14 journalists and media workers in Caracas:
www.pen-international.org/news/venezue...
This week a wave of arbitrary detentions, intimidation, surveillance and censorship included the detention of at least 14 journalists and media workers in Caracas:
www.pen-international.org/news/venezue...
Reposted by Joan Detz
The Authors Guild has significant concerns with Amazon’s new “Ask this Book” feature, which has been available since December 11, 2025. The Guild is looking into whether the feature, which was added without permission from publishers or authors, might infringe authors’ and publishers’ rights.
January 7, 2026 at 9:03 PM
The Authors Guild has significant concerns with Amazon’s new “Ask this Book” feature, which has been available since December 11, 2025. The Guild is looking into whether the feature, which was added without permission from publishers or authors, might infringe authors’ and publishers’ rights.
I got stranded in Germany for days. It gave me faith in humanity. www.sfgate.com/travel/artic... #travel #Europe
I got stranded in Germany for days. It gave me faith in humanity.
Storms and military actions stranded travelers on both sides of the Atlantic.
www.sfgate.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:46 AM
I got stranded in Germany for days. It gave me faith in humanity. www.sfgate.com/travel/artic... #travel #Europe
Reposted by Joan Detz
“Because bookshops make everything better, don’t they? The smell of them, the silence of them, the sense of possibility that each and every one of the books they house promises. A great book has the power to change your way of looking at the world.”
I opened a bookshop. It was the best, worst thing I’ve ever done
Chloe Fox shares the hopes and heartache of fulfilling a life-long dream
www.ft.com
December 26, 2025 at 6:15 PM
“Because bookshops make everything better, don’t they? The smell of them, the silence of them, the sense of possibility that each and every one of the books they house promises. A great book has the power to change your way of looking at the world.”
Utah's "No Read List" grows as three more books were added today. 22 books are now prohibited in public schools across Utah. Utah's HB 29 is one of the most extreme book banning laws in effect in the United States. More: pen.org/the-state-of... #bannedbooks #censorship #freadom #freedomtoread
January 6, 2026 at 1:27 AM
#speechwriting Excerpt: “May we all keep speaking—and listening—with intention, with integrity, and with the belief that truth, however contested, is still worth fighting for” #PublicSpeaking #AwardCeremony
"The people who trust me with their stories — refugees, survivors, dissenters, families navigating grief or injustice — they remind me every day that storytelling is a sacred responsibility,"
Read Samira Mohyeddin's Ken Filkow Speech: buff.ly/doUNORz
Read Samira Mohyeddin's Ken Filkow Speech: buff.ly/doUNORz
January 5, 2026 at 4:47 AM
#speechwriting Excerpt: “May we all keep speaking—and listening—with intention, with integrity, and with the belief that truth, however contested, is still worth fighting for” #PublicSpeaking #AwardCeremony
Reposted by Joan Detz
"It’s safe to say this assault on the press over the past year has probably been the most aggressive that we’ve seen in modern times," said Tim Richardson, program director for journalism and disinformation at PEN America. abcnews.go.com/Business/wir...
A rough year for journalists in 2025, with a little hope for things to turn around
By most measures, 2025 was a rough year for those who care about freedom of the press
abcnews.go.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:08 PM
"It’s safe to say this assault on the press over the past year has probably been the most aggressive that we’ve seen in modern times," said Tim Richardson, program director for journalism and disinformation at PEN America. abcnews.go.com/Business/wir...
Reposted by Joan Detz
"lawlessness on the streets fuels a more general sense of disorder and anxiety about the state of the city: Speeding, red light violations, and sidewalk parking are not only illegal but antisocial."
Op-ed: Why transportation should be an issue in mayoral election
When planners talk about how improving transportation options can improve quality of life, we mean saving New Yorkers time, money, and stress in their everyday lives.
www.crainsnewyork.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:32 PM
"lawlessness on the streets fuels a more general sense of disorder and anxiety about the state of the city: Speeding, red light violations, and sidewalk parking are not only illegal but antisocial."
In his inaugural address, Mayor Zohran Mamdani frequently invoked the cuisines of New York as metaphors for the city’s diversity, ambitions and promise.
Mamdani Pays Tribute to the Foods That Define and Sustain New York
In his inaugural address, Mayor Zohran Mamdani frequently invoked the cuisines of New York as metaphors for the city’s diversity, ambitions and promise.
nyti.ms
January 2, 2026 at 4:09 AM
Good to read: “much stiffer penalties for recidivist speeders & red light runners" - new DOT commissioner Flynn
"bigger moves to rein in dangerous driving are necessary to eliminate the carnage on our streets, such as graduated parking and traffic violation fines that reward those who choose safer vehicles, and much stiffer penalties for recidivist speeders and red light runners" - new DOT commissioner Flynn
Hit-and-run driver kills one pedestrian, leaves another clinging to life in NYC New Year’s carnage
January 2, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Good to read: “much stiffer penalties for recidivist speeders & red light runners" - new DOT commissioner Flynn
Reposted by Joan Detz
After President Donald Trump used the word "retarded" recently, social media posts including the term tripled, fueling a trend that has disability advocates on edge. #disabilities #rword
'R-Word' Use Surges Following Trump Post
After President Donald Trump used the word "retarded" recently, social media posts including the term tripled, fueling a trend that has disability advocates on edge.
www.disabilityscoop.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:49 AM
After President Donald Trump used the word "retarded" recently, social media posts including the term tripled, fueling a trend that has disability advocates on edge. #disabilities #rword
Reposted by Joan Detz
I kept seeing people use the word samizdat to refer to the Canadian sourcing of the 60 Minutes report on CECOT pulled by Bari Weiss. Here's the definition from Merriam-Webster:
December 23, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I kept seeing people use the word samizdat to refer to the Canadian sourcing of the 60 Minutes report on CECOT pulled by Bari Weiss. Here's the definition from Merriam-Webster:
Reposted by Joan Detz
“Take away our ability to speak, and we can still think, reason, form beliefs, fall in love, and move about the world; our range of what we can experience and think about remains vast.
But take away language from a large language model, and you are left with literally nothing at all.”
But take away language from a large language model, and you are left with literally nothing at all.”
www.theverge.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:35 PM
“Take away our ability to speak, and we can still think, reason, form beliefs, fall in love, and move about the world; our range of what we can experience and think about remains vast.
But take away language from a large language model, and you are left with literally nothing at all.”
But take away language from a large language model, and you are left with literally nothing at all.”
Please don’t take your eyes away from the damage book banning laws are doing in Texas. In Boerne ISD, a kindergarten class was forced to cancel its planned holiday party book exchange due to HB900 and SB13.
December 23, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Excerpt: "Even when most of the class can hear and understand the teacher, dyslexic students with normal hearing may hear the teacher speaking but be unable to distinguish the teacher’s words from the background noise"
#SchoolLibraries #classrooms #disabilities
#SchoolLibraries #classrooms #disabilities
How Background Noise Affects Dyslexic Students www.dyslexiakit.net/background-n...
How Background Noise Affects Dyslexic Students - Dyslexia Tool Kit
Background noise in classrooms affects students with dyslexia. Signal-to-noise ratio can alert teachers to why some students miss things.
www.dyslexiakit.net
December 20, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Excerpt: "Even when most of the class can hear and understand the teacher, dyslexic students with normal hearing may hear the teacher speaking but be unable to distinguish the teacher’s words from the background noise"
#SchoolLibraries #classrooms #disabilities
#SchoolLibraries #classrooms #disabilities
Reposted by Joan Detz
This year’s FISH List is live. Unlike traditional rankings, the FISH List champions independent publications. It’s a nifty resource for authors and readers alike 📝
FISH List
Short stories hand-picked from authors around the world. Submissions accepted. Humour, crime, sci-fi, fantasy, horror and everyday life.
www.fictionontheweb.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 10:51 PM
This year’s FISH List is live. Unlike traditional rankings, the FISH List champions independent publications. It’s a nifty resource for authors and readers alike 📝
Reposted by Joan Detz
Good choice, Merriam-Webster.
AI haters, this one's for you: Merriam-Webster's 2025 word of the year is 'slop' | CBC News
The word "slop" was first used to refer to soft mud in the 1700s, but has since evolved to mean of little value — especially when referring to online content of low quality that's made with artificial...
www.cbc.ca
December 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Good choice, Merriam-Webster.
Glad to be a member
Give the gift of stories this season. Your support helps the Authors Guild Foundation protect authors’ voices and the stories that inspire, challenge, and connect readers everywhere.
December 15, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Glad to be a member
Wild that the Secretary of Transportation is out here pretending pull-ups are policy while the rest of us are just trying to make sure bridges don’t collapse and planes don’t fall out of the sky.
December 9, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Joan Detz
Delighted to work with @englishpen.bsky.social & @irishpen.bsky.social on this year's PEN Heaney Prize.
Congrats to Tom Paulin, winner of the 2025 award for Namanlagh @faberbooks.bsky.social.
The prize was presented at @nlireland.bsky.social on Monday evening: www.rte.ie/culture/2025...
Congrats to Tom Paulin, winner of the 2025 award for Namanlagh @faberbooks.bsky.social.
The prize was presented at @nlireland.bsky.social on Monday evening: www.rte.ie/culture/2025...
Poet Tom Paulin wins 2025 PEN Heaney Prize
www.rte.ie
December 3, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Delighted to work with @englishpen.bsky.social & @irishpen.bsky.social on this year's PEN Heaney Prize.
Congrats to Tom Paulin, winner of the 2025 award for Namanlagh @faberbooks.bsky.social.
The prize was presented at @nlireland.bsky.social on Monday evening: www.rte.ie/culture/2025...
Congrats to Tom Paulin, winner of the 2025 award for Namanlagh @faberbooks.bsky.social.
The prize was presented at @nlireland.bsky.social on Monday evening: www.rte.ie/culture/2025...