In today’s world of 24-hour news, social media algorithms, and rampant misinformation, staying informed can feel overwhelming. Join acclaimed journalist Philip Eil for a conversation on the state of the news media, how we arrived at this chaotic moment, and practical tips for maintaining a healthy information diet.

Philip Eil is a freelance journalist based in his hometown of Providence. His debut book, Prescription for Pain: How a Once Promising Doctor Became the “Pill Mill Killer”, was published in April 2024 by Steerforth Press. He previously served as news editor at the alternative weekly Providence Phoenix until its closure in 2014. Since then, his work has appeared in outlets including VICE, The Atlantic, Rhode Island Monthly, Men’s Health, The Nation, The Boston Globe, and HuffPost. He has also taught courses in writing and journalism at Brown University, Columbia University, UMass Dartmouth, and the Rhode Island School of Design.

This event will be held at the Blackstone Valley Visitor's Center Theater, located at 175 Main St, Pawtucket. Light refreshments will be served at 6:00 pm, and the speaking program will start at 6:30 pm.  

This program launches the Pawtucket Public Library’s Michael Denneny Speaker Series, created to honor and continue the legacy of Pawtucket native and groundbreaking book editor Michael Denneny. A trailblazer in New York publishing, Denneny was one of the first openly gay editors and co-founded the influential magazine Christopher Street. At St. Martin’s Press, he established Stonewall Inn Editions, the first major imprint devoted to gay literature, which helped bring LGBTQ+ voices into the literary mainstream.  The  series is organized by the Friends of the Pawtucket Library and the Pawtucket Public Library.  

Denneny was also a passionate advocate for media literacy, making “News Media in the Misinformation Age,” a meaningful and fitting inaugural event for this series.

The Speaker Series is funded by the Michael Leo Denneny Speaker Series Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation.  
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