Press

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2021

September 20, 2021 A new Federal Writers Project should have a place in the infrastructure bill
By Barbara Lane
https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/books/a-new-federal-writers-project-should-have-a-place-in-the-infrastructure-bill

September 14, 2021 A 21st Century Federal Writers’ Project Proposed
By Paul Vandeventer
https://www.dcreport.org/2021/09/14/a-21st-century-federal-writers-project-proposed/

September 7, 2021 Reinventing the Depression-era Federal Writers’ Project could help reintroduce America to itself: Human infrastructure bill would recreate the Federal Writers’ Project
By David Kipen
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/09/07/3-5-trillion-infrastructure-bill-hire-900-writers-editors-teachers/5722004001/

August 5, 2021 THE NEW DEAL PROGRAM THAT REWROTE AMERICA: In the thirties, the government paid unemployed writers, artists, and journalists to produce a series of guidebooks for the country. What story did they tell?
By Margaret Talbot
https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/the-new-deal-program-that-rewrote-america

July 27, 2021 Press: Give those unemployed writers a job!
By Bill Press, Opinion Contributor
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/564828-press-give-those-unemployed-writers-a-job?rl=1

July 14, 2021 From Our Town to Schitt’s Creek
By Elizabeth Howard
https://www.laconiadailysun.com/community/lake_style/from-our-town-to-schitts-creek/article_56307880-e4a9-11eb-85a2-1be7edb51c85.html

July 12, 2021 Why We Need a New Federal Writers’ Project: The Depression-era Federal Writers’ Project created jobs, fought disinformation, and gave voice to the voiceless. We need all of the above now more than ever.
By David Kipen
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/federal-writers-project/

July 6, 2021 A New Deal for Writers in America: Writers suffered during the pandemic. The Federal Writers’ Project offers a template on how to help them — and the country.
By Scott Borchert
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/06/opinion/federal-writers-project.html

July 5, 2021 The Federal Writers’ Project Fueled the Cultural Ferment of the New Deal Era
By Alex Press
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/07/federal-writers-project-new-deal-era-public-funding-wpa-fdr

June 28, 2021 Their View: It’s time for a new Federal Writers Project
By The Times Editorial Board
https://heraldcourier.com/opinion/their-view-it-s-time-for-a-new-federal-writers-project/article_118c04f9-7ba0-5939-b3e0-0390ef84a6e6.html

June 28, 2021 WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: It’s time for a new Federal Writers’ Project
By The Pantograph Staff
https://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/editorial/what-others-are-saying-it-s-time-for-a-new-federal-writers-project/article_ec64ee01-cfbc-5602-a986-31c889d8a19f.html

June 24, 2021 It’s Time to Mobilize for Voting Rights: John Nichols on the franchise, plus David Kipen on a new Federal Writers Project.
By Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener [LISTEN HERE]
https://www.thenation.com/podcast/politics/voting-rights-filibuster/

June 23, 2021 It’s Time for A New Federal Writers Project: David Kipen
Start Making Sense Clips [LISTEN HERE]
https://audioboom.com/posts/7892276-it-s-time-for-a-new-federal-writers-project-david-kipen

June 23, 2021 It’s Time to Mobilize for Voting Rights: John Nichols; plus David Kipen on a new Federal Writers Project
The Nation Podcast – on Audible.com
https://www.audible.com/pd/Its-Time-to-Mobilize-for-Voting-Rights-John-Nichols-plus-David-Kipen-on-a-new-Federal-Writers-Project-Podcast/B09751YH1B

June 23, 2021 IT’S TIME TO MOBILIZE FOR VOTING RIGHTS: JOHN NICHOLS; PLUS DAVID KIPEN ON A NEW FEDERAL WRITERS PROJECT
By Jon Wiener [LISTEN HERE]
https://jonwiener.com/its-time-to-mobilize-for-voting-rights-john-nichols-plus-david-kipen-on-a-new-federal-writers-project/

June 21, 2021 The 21st Century Federal Writers’ Project By Deborah Kelly – Streetlight
By Deborah Kelly
https://streetlightmag.com/2021/06/21/the-21st-century-federal-writers-project-by-deborah-kelly/

June 20, 2021 Editorial: It’s time for a new Federal Writers’ Project
By The Times Editorial Board
https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/editorial-it-s-time-new-federal-writers-project

June 15, 2021 Inspired By Northern Ireland, Poet Tess Taylor Suggests ‘Art As Civic Repair’
By GPB Newsroom, Heard on All Things Considered
https://www.gpb.org/news/2021/06/15/inspired-by-northern-ireland-poet-tess-taylor-suggests-art-civic-repair

June 14, 2021 Inspired By Northern Ireland, Poet Tess Taylor Suggests ‘Art As Civic Repair’
NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly speaks with poet Tess Taylor, discussing her proposal for the U.S. moving political division through the arts.
Heard on All Things Considered [ LISTEN HERE ]
https://www.npr.org/2021/06/14/1006349522/inspired-by-northern-ireland-poet-tess-taylor-suggests-art-as-civic-repair

June 14, 2021 George J. Sánchez in Conversation with David Kipen, “Boyle Heights: How a Los Angeles Neighborhood Became the Future of American Democracy
By Skirball Cultural Center [ VIDEO ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2QiLIQ9rgk

June 12, 2021 Paying American geniuses to write with a new WPA
By Larry Wilson
https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2021/06/12/paying-american-geniuses-to-write-with-a-new-wpa/

June 10, 2021 Another transplant’s book on L.A.: Does Rosecrans Baldwin know his stuff?
By David Kipen
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2021-06-10/another-transplant-book-l-a-does-rosecrans-baldwin-know-stuff

June 8, 2021 Boyle Heights: How a Los Angeles Neighborhood Became the Future of American Democracy: George J. Sanchez in Conversation with David Kipen | Virtual Talk
KPCC Events Staff
https://archive.kpcc.org/events/2021/06/08/2909/boyle-heights-how-a-los-angeles-neighborhood-becam/

June 6, 2021 Federal Writers’ Project
by Locus Magazine Staff
https://locusmag.com/2021/06/federal-writers-project/

June 3, 2021 REP. LIEU AND DAVID KIPEN DISCUSS 21ST CENTURY FEDERAL WRITERS’ PROJECT WITH LA TIMES TODAY
https://youtu.be/0LT-Iz03X6g

June 3, 2021 LA Times Today: How COVID-era Federal Writers Project became a proposed bill
LA Times Books Staff [VIDEO]
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/00000179-d3c2-d819-a57b-dfe72c8d0000-123

June 3, 2021 Latest News on the 21st Century Writers’ Project Act
By Libros Schmibros Staff
https://librosschmibros.wordpress.com/2021/06/03/latest-news-on-the-21st-century-writers-project-act/

June 3, 2021 Column: Who will fill Eli Broad’s philanthropic shoes? How about nobody?
By Carolina A. Miranda
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-06-03/who-will-fill-eli-broads-philanthropic-shoes-how-about-nobody

May 20, 2021 David Kipen Inspires Introduction of 21st Century Federal Writers’ Project Bill in US House of Representatives
https://wp.ucla.edu/spotlight/david-kipen-inspires-introduction-of-21st-century-federal-writers-project-bill-in-us-house-of-representatives/

May 19, 2021 Why not redo Depression-era Federal Writers’ Project? This time, pay writers to document COVID for history
Written by Danielle Chiriguayo
https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/press-play-with-madeleine-brand/israel-palestine-coronavirus-writing-refugee/21-century-federal-writers-project

May 14, 2021 New Deal-Inspired Program Would Pay Writers to Document the Pandemic – The Takeaway
Produced by Ethan Oberman, Hosted by Sarah Gonzalez
https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/takeaway/segments/new-deal-inspired-program-would-pay-writers-document-pandemic

May 13, 2021 Lawmakers Propose New Federal Writers Project
By Know Good Words Staff
https://knowgoodwords.com/lawmakers-propose-new-federal-writers-project/

May 10, 2021 Rep. Ted Lieu Bill Aims to Give America’s Writers Work – Take Two with A Martinez
https://omny.fm/shows/take-two/rep-ted-lieu-bill-aims-to-give-americas-writers-wo

May 9, 2021 Revived New Deal Program Would Employ Out-Of-Work Writers To Document Current Times
by Chris Greenspon
https://laist.com/news/revived-new-deal-program-would-employ-out-of-work-writers-to-document-current-times

May 7, 2021 After a long year, local news looks back and thinks forward: BILL PROPOSES FEDERAL WRITERS’ PROJECT
By Lauren Harris
https://www.cjr.org/business_of_news/local-news-looks-back.php

May 6, 2021 REPS LIEU AND LEGER FERNANDEZ INTRODUCE THE 21ST CENTURY FEDERAL WRITERS’ PROJECT ACT
Press Release
https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-lieu-and-leger-fernandez-introduce-21st-century-federal-writers

May 6, 2021 Power of The Press? From Op-Ed To Federal Writers Project Bill in Congress
By Arts Journal Staff
https://www.artsjournal.com/2021/05/power-of-the-press-from-op-ed-to-federal-writers-project-bill-in-congress.html

May 6, 2021 UCLA’s David Kipen Catalyzes Bill in Congress to Revive Federal Writers’ Project
UCLA Strategic Communications
https://humanities.ucla.edu/faculty-department/uclas-david-kipen-catalyzes-bill-in-congress-to-revive-federal-writers-project/

May 6, 2021 Pen America “Writers have an essential role to play in this moment of global crisis and transformation,” says our Board President
PEN America Staff
https://twitter.com/penamerica/status/1390341517684920323

May 6, 2021 The unusual back story behind the new Federal Writers Project act to help struggling writers
https://milled.com/latimes/the-unusual-back-story-behind-the-new-federal-writers-project-act-to-help–N4CUxSw4-6rFCLGf

May 6, 2021 How a COVID-era Federal Writers Project went from wild idea to a proposed bill
By Dorany Pineda
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2021-05-06/how-a-covid-era-federal-writers-project-went-from-wild-idea-to-a-proposed-bill



2020

December 22, 2020 Bring Back the New Deal’s Federal Writers Project
By Charles P. Pierce
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a35048660/new-deal-federal-writers-project/

December 22, 2020 The enduring lessons of a New Deal writers project
by Jon Allsop
https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php

October 30, 2020 ‘Wagner’s Music is Bombastic and Boring’ and Other Letters to the Editor
New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/30/books/review/wagners-music-is-bombastic-and-boring-and-other-letters-to-the-editor.html

October 7, 2020 David Kipen Proposes a New Federal Writers Project for American Writers
Writing Programs Staff
https://wp.ucla.edu/archived-spotlights/david-kipen-proposes-a-new-federal-writers-project-for-american-writers/

September 24, 2020 COVID-era Federal Writers Project
LA Times California Staff [VIDEO]
https://www.latimes.com/california/00000174-bc80-d1cd-a3f7-bcb8ef740001-123

September 23, 2020 Can the Government Save Writers After COVID-19?
By LA TIMES TODAY STAFF
https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/la-times-today/2020/09/23/can-the-government-save-writers-after-covid-19-

August 27, 2020 WPA FEDERAL WRITERS’ PROJECT – Take Two
Take TwoKPCC.org [LISTEN HERE]
https://www.audible.com/pd/Its-Time-to-Mobilize-for-Voting-Rights-John-Nichols-plus-David-Kipen-on-a-new-Federal-Writers-Project-Podcast/B09751YH1B

August 11, 2020 The City of Angels, Viewed Through a Prism
By David Kipen
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/books/review/city-at-the-edge-of-forever-los-angeles-peter-lunenfeld.html

July 1, 2020 Where We’re From: Put your Golden State knowledge to the test with this California-shaped crossword puzzle
By David Kipen
https://www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a8030/crossword/

May 6, 2020 85 years ago, FDR saved American writers. Could it ever happen again?by David Kipen
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2020-05-06/post-coronavirus-federal-writers-project

April 8, 2020 Q&A: Author Cynthia Ozick will spend her 92nd birthday ‘contemplating mayhem’
By David Kipen
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2020-04-08/sheltering-author-cynthia-ozick-will-spend-her-92nd-birthday-contemplating-mayhem

April 4, 2020 Professors reorganize, students adjust to first week of online classes
By Emily MacInnis
https://dailybruin.com/2020/04/04/professors-reorganize-students-adjust-to-first-week-of-online-classes

February 24, 2020 Thomas Pynchon Unmasked
By David Kipen
https://www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a6465/thomas-pynchon-unmasked/


2019

September 10, 2019 Libros Schmibros receives colorful makeover for Los Angeles’s Boyle Height space
By Shane Reiner-Roth
https://www.archpaper.com/2019/09/libros-schmibros-makeover-boyle-heights-space/

April 13, 2019 Lili Anolik, David Kipen, and Lynell George share the people and places that shaped L.A.
By Tyler Malone
https://www.latimes.com/books/la-et-jc-fob-lili-anolik-tosh-berman-lynell-george-20190413-story.html

March 20, 2019 A Portrait of Los Angeles in Letters and Diaries
Hosted by Michael Krasny [LISTEN HERE]
https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101870118/a-portrait-of-los-angeles-in-letters-and-diaries

February 5, 2019 ‘Dear Los Angeles’ Collects Nearly 5 Centuries of Opinions About The City
By Susan Stamberg – Heard on Morning Edition [LISTEN HERE]
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/05/691291950/dear-los-angeles-collects-nearly-5-centuries-of-opinions-about-the-city

January 29, 2019 Dark Knights and Sunny Disquisitions: On David Kipen’s “Dear Los Angeles: The City in Diaries and Letters, 1542 to 2018”
By Anthony Mostrom
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/dark-knights-and-sunny-disquisitions-on-david-kipens-dear-los-angeles-the-city-in-diaries-and-letters-1542-to-2018/

January 2, 2019 Boundless city: A review of “Dear Los Angeles,’ edited by David Kipen
By Maggie Shipstead
https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/books/boundless-city-a-review-of-dear-los-angeles-edited-by-david-kipen


2018

December 16, 2018 Op-Ed: Check that shoe box full of your family letters. There are keepers that can fill in L.A.’s history
By David Kipen
https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/07/david-kipen-on-thomas-pynchon.html

December 9, 2018 UCLA lecturer compiles centuries of LA perspectives in ‘Dear Los Angeles’
By Lisa Aubry
https://dailybruin.com/2018/12/09/ucla-lecturer-compiles-centuries-of-la-perspectives-in-dear-los-angeles

December 6, 2018 California Today: How Do You Capture Los Angeles in One Book?
By Jill Cowan
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/us/california-today-david-kipen-los-angeles-book.html

December 6, 2018 Historical Figures Tell the Story of L.A., One Letter aDiary Entry at a Time
By David Kipen
https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/dear-los-angeles/

November 30, 2018 Los Angeles is refracted in all its irreducible, unexplainable glory in ‘Dear Los Angeles’
By Tyler Malone
https://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc-dear-los-angeles-20181130-story.html

November 26, 2018 Los Angeles Through the Centuries, Glimpsed by Kerouac, de Beauvoir, Waugh and Others
By Dwight Garner
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/26/books/review-dear-los-angeles-david-kipen.html

July 27, 2018 Libros Schmibros Lending Library Has Moved Into The Historic Boyle Hotel
By Beidi Zhang
https://laist.com/news/entertainment/libros-schmibros-lending-library-moves-into-historic-boyle-hotel

April 18, 2018 Critic at Large David Kipen on El Segundo in literature
By David Kipen
https://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc-david-kipen-essay-20180418-story.html


2017

December 15, 2017 David Kipen recommends an overlooked book about a lost LA hero
By David Kipen
https://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-david-kipen-20171215-story.html

July 13, 2017 Ernest Hemingway’s long-lost Los Angeles visit
By David Kipen
https://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-ernest-hemingway-los-angeles-20170713-story.html

May 19, 2017 Where do art and the humanities belong? David Kipen on the new American Writers Museum
By David Kipen
https://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-kipen-writers-museum-20170519-htmlstory.html


2016

December 28, 2016 ‘Language at the Speed of Sight’ Fights to Reopen Our Closed Book on Literacy
By David Kipen
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/books/language-at-the-speed-of-sight-mark-seidenberg.html


June 30, 2016 David Kipen’s Great American Novel: The works of Thomas Pynchon
By David Kipen
https://www.latimes.com/people/carolina-a-miranda

April 14, 2016 The secret connection between Cervantes and Shakespeare
By David Kipen
https://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc-cervantes-shakespeare-connection-20160417-story.html



2009

July 16, 2009 How Thomas Pynchon made a fan of David Kipen
Jacket Copy Staff
https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/07/david-kipen-on-thomas-pynchon.html


2004

June 2004 Offshoring the Audience
By David Kipen
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/06/offshoring-the-audience/302965/

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