Leonard Downie Biography

Leonard Downie Jr. is Weil Professor of Journalism at The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He served as executive editor of The Washington Post from 1991 to 2008. During Downie’s seventeen years as executive editor, the news staff won twenty-five Pulitzer Prizes including three Pulitzer gold medals for public service. His books include "Justice Denied," "Mortgage on America," "The New Muckrakers," and "The News About the News: American Journalism in Peril with Robert G. Kaiser," which won the Goldsmith Award from the Joan Shorenstein Center at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Downie’s most recent work and his first work of fiction, "The Rules of the Game," is a novel of corruption and cover-ups at the highest levels of Washington politics, as a national newspaper digs up the dark secrets of a powerful lobbying firm thereby exposing a network of wrongdoing by government contractors in Iraq that extends all the way to the White House.

Downie is a seasoned speaker and has spoken at Oxford University, Columbia University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Wisconsin, Ohio State University, Chautauqua, and for the American Society of Newspaper Editors, among others. He speaks on a variety of topics, drawing from his own experiences and incorporating the current headlines, resulting in engaging and timely lectures that give audiences a peek inside the inner workings of Washington.

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Leonard Downie's expertise is in high demand. To book Leonard Downie for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure Leonard Downie's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with Leonard Downie's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Leonard Downie for your next speaking engagement.