ATHENS, W.Va. – Journalist Eric Eyre, who received the Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting in 2017 for stories on the opioid crisis, will be the featured speaker for Concord University’s Constitution Day event on Thursday, Sept. 17th. Eyre’s presentation “Sustained Outrage: Saving Local News and the First Amendment” will take place via Zoom from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Concord’s Political Science Department and Pi Sigma Alpha, the University’s Political Science Honor Society, are hosting the event. The general public is invited to join the Concord campus community in attending this virtual presentation. A discussion period will follow Eyre’s remarks.
Eyre is currently an investigative reporter at Mountain State Spotlight, a new nonprofit news outlet. He is the author of “Death in Mud Lick: A Coal Country Fight Against the Drug Companies That Delivered the Opioid Epidemic”. Eyre previously worked as a reporter for the Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette-Mail for 22 years, covering state government, health, business and education.
His other awards include the Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) Medal, Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize in Education Reporting from the Education Writers Association, National Headliners Award, Society of American Business Editors and Writers award, Gerald Loeb Award for business writing, and an Association of Health Care Journalists award. Eyre’s investigative stories have mostly spotlighted issues in rural West Virginia communities.
Eyre graduated from Loyola University of New Orleans and received a master’s degree from the University of South Florida at St. Petersburg while on a Poynter Fund Fellowship. He lives in Charleston with his wife Lori, and two cats, BlackieBella and Abby.
For additional information about this event and how to join the Zoom meeting please contact Dr. James White at jwhite@concord.edu
Persons with disabilities should contact Nancy Ellison, 1-304-384-6086 or 1-800-344-6679 extension 6086 if special assistance is required for access to an event scheduled by the University on campus.
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CONTACT:
Sarah M. Pritchett
Concord University
Office of Advancement
PO Box 1000, Athens, WV 24712
(304) 384-6312, news@concord.edu
http://www.concord.edu
After 4 p.m.
pitzer@concord.edu
Office: 304-384-5211
Cell: 304-320-6405