Rowling 'denied Presidential Medal award'

The administration of former US President George Bush reportedly denied J.K. Rowling a Presidential Medal of Freedom award.

The honour is the nation's highest civil prize and is given to individuals who contribute to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace or cultural or other significant public or private endeavours.

According to Think Progress, the bestselling author is said to have been glossed over as a recipient because her "writing encouraged witchcraft".

Ex-Bush speechwriter Matt Latimer detailed the account in his new book Speechless: Tales Of A White House Survivor, writing: "This was the same sort of narrow thinking that led people in the White House to actually object to giving the author J.K. Rowling a presidential medal because the Harry Potter books encouraged witchcraft."

Rowling was recently bestowed with an accolade from the Jim Henson Company for her "imagination and originality in creating the fantastical world of Harry Potter".