Rushdie, Twitter CEO to receive PEN awards

NEW YORK (AP) — One writes novels and likes to tweet. The other is Twitter’s CEO. Both men, Salman Rushdie and Dick Costolo, will be honored May 5 in New York at the annual gala of the PEN American Center.

The literary organization said Thursday that Rushdie will receive its PEN/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award, citing the “unparalleled courage” of Rushdie.

Costolo will be given the inaugural PEN/Toni and James C. Goodale Digital Freedom Award, in recognition of Twitter being “a powerful new tool” for free expression.