Len Downie, “All About the Story”

Former Washington Post Executive Editor Leonard Downie Junior has written a new memoir of his nearly 50 years of guiding the Post through major news stories ranging from Watergate to 9-11. The book is titled, “All About the Story.” We spoke with Downie who is now a professor at the Cronkite School of Journalism.

The professor says that this is a crucial time to be a journalist because of the credibility of news. He talks of his career in the Washington Post and if he knew this was the life for him.

He also, provides insight into what the Watergate scandal was like for him. There’s similarities between then and now, especially with the president accusing the media of falsehood. Downie even reveals that it was a time of no internet and constant attacks to the media, it seemed like a dark tunnel.

On the flip side, when covering 9-11 Downie recalls how unified the staff was when reporting the incident. He says people came back from sick leave, vacations, and reporters went out to New York without being asked. It was a time where they all showed their dedication.