Fitzpatrick to speak on First Amendment; 'tenacious' press

Watchdog journalism and First Amendment rights will headline the opening session of the Bosworth Lecture Series, Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.

Posted 9/7/17

         Edward Fitzpatrick, former political columnist at the Providence Journal and currently director of media and public relations at Roger Williams …

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Fitzpatrick to speak on First Amendment; 'tenacious' press

Watchdog journalism and First Amendment rights will headline the opening session of the Bosworth Lecture Series, Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.

Posted

         Edward Fitzpatrick, former political columnist at the Providence Journal and currently director of media and public relations at Roger Williams University, will talk about his experience as a reporter in a state that another former Journal reporter once described as “a theme park for journalists.”

          He will discuss whether Rhode Island really does have more public corruption than other places – or whether it’s just a matter of perception. And as a member of the New England First Amendment Coalition board, he will talk about the importance of a free press and the need for tenacious watchdog journalism going forward.

          He will also speak about the current decline of print media in a burgeoning cyber age, the issues of "free speech" and "hate speech" on today's college campus and the phenomenon of "fake news" in the arena of national media.

          As the Providence Journal‘s political columnist, Edward Fitzpatrick championed First Amendment freedoms, pressing for access to public records and open meetings, a free press and freedom of speech. He worked for the Providence Journal for 16 years before becoming the director of media and public relations at Roger Williams University earlier this year.

          He just received the Excellence in Public Service Award from Common Cause Rhode Island for advocating for open and accountable government. In 2016 and 2015, he received the first-place award for news/features columnist from the Rhode Island Press Association.

          A native Rhode Islander, he has worked at daily newspapers for a total 29 years. Before coming to the Journal, he was a reporter at the Hartford Courant, Albany Times Union, Daily Gazette and Post Star, and city editor at The Saratogian. He grew up in Greenville and graduated from Syracuse University with a dual degree in journalism and political science. He lives in Providence.

          The Roswell S. Bosworth Lecture Series is presented by the Men's Club, a local organization that pays tribute to its founding member, former editor/publisher of East Bay Newspapers with lectures of general interest to the R.I. audience.

Upcoming Bosworth Lecture Series Speakers
Oct. 12: Kenny Raposa — DEM Research Coordinator on Narragansett Bay aquaculture, preserving salt marshes and monitoring sea level rise.
Nov. 9: Matthew Perry — On the 300th Anniversary of St. Michael's Episcopal Church and the storied history of the Bristol parish.

WHERE: Rogers Free Library, 525 Hope St., Bristol
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 14; 7 p.m.
COST: Free

Edward Fitzpatrick, Bosworth Lecture Series

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.