Royal Society of Literature Loses Leaders Amid Scandals

The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) faces turmoil as Director Molly Rosenberg and Chair Daljit Nagra announce their departures amid ongoing scandals and internal disputes regarding free speech. High-profile writers like Margaret Atwood and Kazuo Ishiguro have criticized the leadership for failing to support Salman Rushdie after his attack and for the society's perceived lowering of membership standards. Tensions escalated when members alleged that the RSL postponed an article on Israel and Gaza, which the organization denied, citing editorial issues instead. Meanwhile, discussions around free speech continue to be contentious across various platforms, including social media and universities. Elon Musk has announced a change to X's algorithm to reduce negativity, raising concerns about potential censorship and the subjective interpretation of what constitutes negative content. Academic institutions are also navigating the balance between free speech and institutional neutrality, as seen in the University of Delaware's approach to commenting on external issues.