Leonard Downie Jr., one of the most respected men in modern journalism and an Ohio State alumnus, will speak at OSU today. Downie will speak to journalism faculty and students from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Room of the Journalism Building, followed by a lecture and book signing for his new novel “The Rules of The Game” at 5:30 p.m. in Page Hall.
The event is presented jointly by OSU’s Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism, the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Carroll Glynn, director of the school of communication, says she is thrilled to have Downie back on campus.
“It’s really important for the university to keep in touch with its alumni and he’s certainly one of our most distinguished. He will be able to impart some his vast knowledge to our students,” she said.
Former Lantern managing editor and Washington Post executive editor Len Downie Jr. will speak today at Page Hall. Downie was one of the few who knew the identity of ‘Deep Throat,’ the Watergate Scandal informant.Downie cites his experience at OSU and on The Lantern as a major factor in his success.
“It gave me experience dealing with people like Woody Hayes, the president of the university and the chairman of the Board of Trustees,” he said. “It served me well when it came time later in my career to deal with the president of the United States on controversial stories.”
One faculty member had a profound impact on Downie’s career.
“George Kienzle, the director of the School of Journalism at the time, was a big inspiration to me. Actually, through conversations between him and a senior editor at the Washington Post, it enabled me to become a summer intern at The Post in 1964.”
Downie worked as a reporter and editor at the Washington Post for the next 44 years.
As Deputy Metropolitan Editor he managed much of the paper’s coverage of the Watergate Scandal. He was one of a select few who knew the identity of “Deep Throat,” the infamous inside source of the scandal, before it was revealed to the public.
In 1991, Downie was named executive editor of the Washington Post, a position he held until his retirement in September 2008. During his 17-year tenure, the paper won 25 Pulitzer Prizes, the most under a single editor in newspaper history.
After his retirement, Downie decided to finish a novel he started five or six years ago. “The Rules of the Game” is his first attempt at fiction and has thus far received positive reviews.
The book is centered around Sarah Paige, a rising star in Washington journalism, who begins investigating an influential lobbyist. The investigation reveals scandal, murder and even puts her own life in jeopardy.
“There were things I wanted to say about how Washington works that I thought would be more interesting done fictionally, and that I might even be able to make my points better in fiction,” he said.
Even after his success, Downie still cherishes the opportunity to visit his alma mater.
“I love the John Glenn School and I still love The Lantern. It was such an important experience for me.”
Richard Oviatt can be reached at [email protected].
