The Association of American Publishers will not name a single winner of its International Freedom to Publish Award this year, instead acknowledging the work of "all publishing houses in multiple countries and regions of the world that continued to publish in the face of increased government pressure, harassment, and threats." The prize committee added that several publishers noted that the increased attention that such an award brings can cause more trouble than good and spark reprisals.
“From government censorship and book bans to harassment and arrests, pressure on the global publishing community has reached unprecedented levels,” said Terry Adams, chair of the AAP Freedom to Publish Committee and digital and paperback publisher at Little, Brown and Company. “This year we heard from numerous publishers from various parts of the world who were grateful to be considered for recognition, but who also live in fear of the additional scrutiny, harassment, and danger that such an honor might bring. As a result, this year’s award is for the many houses who quietly fight the battle for free expression under impossibly difficult circumstances."
The award was established in 2002 by the AAP to "recognize publishers outside the United States who have demonstrated courage and fortitude in defending freedom of expression." It honors the work of Jeri Laber, a cofounder of Human Rights Watch and founding member of AAP’s Freedom to Publish Committee. Recent honorees include Editorial Dahbar of Venezuela (2022), F&G Editores of Guatemala (2021), Jagriti Publishing House of Bangladesh (2020), and NB Publishers of South Africa (2019).
"We realize that the empty hole at the center of this year’s award might seem to represent a missed opportunity to recognize some one individual publisher, and so in making this announcement we cannot emphasize strongly enough that the danger, the outrageous levels of censorship, the deep fears of reprisal, and the freedoms that are very much on the line make this the most important award we’ve ever given," Adams said. He added: “On behalf of AAP’s board of directors and Freedom to Publish Committee, we send a loud and clear message to publishing professionals who are under siege for their bravery, their determination, and their sacrifice: we see you.”
