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All About the Story: News, Power, Politics, and the Washington Post
At a time when the role of journalism is especially critical, the former executive editor of the Washington Post writes about his nearly 50 years at the newspaper and the importance of getting at the truth.
In 1964, as a 22-year-old Ohio State graduate with working-class Cleveland roots and a family to support, Len Downie landed an internship with the Washington Post. He would become a pioneering investigative reporter, news editor, foreign correspondent, and managing editor, before succeeding the legendary Ben Bradlee as executive editor.
Downie's leadership style differed from Bradlee's, but he played an equally important role over more than four decades in making the Post one of the world's leading news organizations. He was one of the editors on the historic Watergate story and drove coverage of the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. He wrestled with the Unabomber's threat to kill more people unless the Post published a rambling 30,000-word manifesto and he published important national security stories in defiance of presidents and top officials. He managed the Post's ascendency to the pinnacle of influence, circulation, and profitability, producing prizewinning investigative reporting with deep impact on American life, before the digital transformation of news media threatened the Post's future.
At a dangerous time, when health and economic crises and partisanship are challenging the news media, Downie's judgment, fairness, and commitment to truth will inspire anyone who wants to know how journalism, at its best, works.
In 1964, as a 22-year-old Ohio State graduate with working-class Cleveland roots and a family to support, Len Downie landed an internship with the Washington Post. He would become a pioneering investigative reporter, news editor, foreign correspondent, and managing editor, before succeeding the legendary Ben Bradlee as executive editor.
Downie's leadership style differed from Bradlee's, but he played an equally important role over more than four decades in making the Post one of the world's leading news organizations. He was one of the editors on the historic Watergate story and drove coverage of the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. He wrestled with the Unabomber's threat to kill more people unless the Post published a rambling 30,000-word manifesto and he published important national security stories in defiance of presidents and top officials. He managed the Post's ascendency to the pinnacle of influence, circulation, and profitability, producing prizewinning investigative reporting with deep impact on American life, before the digital transformation of news media threatened the Post's future.
At a dangerous time, when health and economic crises and partisanship are challenging the news media, Downie's judgment, fairness, and commitment to truth will inspire anyone who wants to know how journalism, at its best, works.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published September 22, 2020
29 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 20, 2020
I'm an avid Washington Post reader, especially during this very important time in our political future. A time when newspapers, the press and reporters are under constant attack by the orange man. Almost fifty years at the Post, Downie has seen and reported on many of America's tragedies. Clinton's impeachment, 911, and others. Journalistic integrity, what it means and how it is enacted. How investigative reporting works and the many hours spent searching and researching the background. How the news has changed, evolved and where it is now. His views of other reporters, his descriptions of the newsrooms of old. His long career, starting as a young man and what his long career meant to him.
I found much of interest but also didn't agree with some of his views, some of his descriptions. All the same there is much here to agree with or for that matter to disagree with.
I found much of interest but also didn't agree with some of his views, some of his descriptions. All the same there is much here to agree with or for that matter to disagree with.
October 31, 2020
This is a not a deeply personal spill-all, but it is packed with valuable lessons from a fabulous tenure in journalism, by someone who reported and edited some of the most important events and stories in our collective lifetimes. It also does include some very emotional moments from a remarkable career; there's a lot in here that I either didn't know or had forgotten about. I very much enjoyed "All About the Story," but keep in mind that I stan Len Downie, as the kids today might say, and treasure the interactions I've had with him while working at The Post. I still enjoy bumping into him and his wife every once in a while. And I even forgive him for writing a Washington Post memoir that has almost nothing at all to say about the work of the Style section. (He apologizes for that omission in the acknowledgements.)
I'll leave others to discuss all the highfalutin' journalism matters raised in the book; my big observation while reading it was that I had forgotten that The Post newsroom used to be so divorce-y. One split right after the other. Is it still like that? I don't ... think so. But then again, we only get all-staff memos about all the newborn babies, which are constant. May they all inherit a world committed to truth! A world made better by Len!
I'll leave others to discuss all the highfalutin' journalism matters raised in the book; my big observation while reading it was that I had forgotten that The Post newsroom used to be so divorce-y. One split right after the other. Is it still like that? I don't ... think so. But then again, we only get all-staff memos about all the newborn babies, which are constant. May they all inherit a world committed to truth! A world made better by Len!
November 24, 2020
I am a Washington Post superfan. Although I respect the Gray Lady, the Post is more authentic, appealing, and by far less snobbish in my opinion (NYT book reviews are rarely a source for my Goodreads to-read list). Highlights of my years in this city have included visits to both Post newsrooms (old and new) in the company of a reporter, viewing the Pulitzers, meeting the restaurant critic, and receiving a reply from a writer to an email I'd sent about a recent column. I remember where I was when the news broke in 2013 that Bezos was buying the paper.
I am also the only person I know under 45 who subscribes to the print edition 7 days a week. That says something about the newspaper business these days, and I am grateful to Bezos for at least the one beneficial act of keeping the Post not only alive but thriving.
This memoir is about the management of major stories; the sausage making of print (and now digital) journalism. Although the news itself is chronicled, the focus is on Downie's decisionmaking process. I found the earlier chapters on Watergate, Jonestown, and the Hanafi attacks (which I'd never heard of) more interesting than those covering events I am old enough to remember. I hope that the Post will still be producing such rich memoirs by journalists and editors decades from now.
I am also the only person I know under 45 who subscribes to the print edition 7 days a week. That says something about the newspaper business these days, and I am grateful to Bezos for at least the one beneficial act of keeping the Post not only alive but thriving.
This memoir is about the management of major stories; the sausage making of print (and now digital) journalism. Although the news itself is chronicled, the focus is on Downie's decisionmaking process. I found the earlier chapters on Watergate, Jonestown, and the Hanafi attacks (which I'd never heard of) more interesting than those covering events I am old enough to remember. I hope that the Post will still be producing such rich memoirs by journalists and editors decades from now.
May 5, 2022
4.5* - I sliced the final star for pompousness, although I think he has good reason to be. Some important lessons on editorial decisions. Exciting ones, too, in a way that journalism in Singapore may never quite be. And while he reiterated the emotional distance he has had to draw as an editor and journalist (like withdrawing from voting at all by some point in his career), I found and appreciated that there was a lot of heart and consideration that went into some of these decisions - for the fellow journalists, national security, and of course, the reputation of the paper. I felt it to the bones this man's passion for journalism and was surprised to be a little teary-eyed as I wrapped the last chapter.
August 30, 2020
All About the Story is Leonard Downie Jr's memoir of his decades at the Washington Post. The book is set in chronological order with the chapters being major stories since the 1960s. He covers from his time in college getting his first real experience publishing a paper all the way through his consulting on the movie The Post. This time hits major news stories like Watergate, the Clinton Scanal, September 11th, the war in Iraq and related stories.
Downie spends the book talking about what went into the decisions to publish or not publish something and where more attention could have been placed. In the lead up to the Clinton Scandal chapter Downie discusses the Post's reporting on Gary Hart in 1987 and how those decisions changed what is acceptable to report about a person's private life and what is not. After that reporting there were other politicians who lost their positions due to infidelity stories allowing the idea that we can and should investigate someone for being unfaithful to their spouse and that this is something that we as the public get to have a say in.
While Downie does not say that this reporting was wrong he does address his lack of interest in putting the stories the Post wrote about the WMD evidence before the invasion of Iraq on the front page a mistake. He regrets putting them inside and I guess feels that if they had been on the front page they could have impacted the decision to allow the war. The scary thing with these examples is that we are all human and make decisions but in the case of the executive editor of the newspaper like the Post the decision can have wide ranging and lasting impacts.
I very much enjoyed the first half of the book I think because I was not around for those events so reading about Watergate and Jonestown were interesting. But from the Clinton's onward I found them less compelling because I lived through those stories and all of the media coverage. The Post was even my local paper from 2002 through 2010 so I knew what their coverage of Iraq was.
At this time when all forms of media are being attacked it was good to read a book about some of the great stories and accomplishments of journalism in the 20th century. It reminds us of what investigative journalism and why it is important.
Downie spends the book talking about what went into the decisions to publish or not publish something and where more attention could have been placed. In the lead up to the Clinton Scandal chapter Downie discusses the Post's reporting on Gary Hart in 1987 and how those decisions changed what is acceptable to report about a person's private life and what is not. After that reporting there were other politicians who lost their positions due to infidelity stories allowing the idea that we can and should investigate someone for being unfaithful to their spouse and that this is something that we as the public get to have a say in.
While Downie does not say that this reporting was wrong he does address his lack of interest in putting the stories the Post wrote about the WMD evidence before the invasion of Iraq on the front page a mistake. He regrets putting them inside and I guess feels that if they had been on the front page they could have impacted the decision to allow the war. The scary thing with these examples is that we are all human and make decisions but in the case of the executive editor of the newspaper like the Post the decision can have wide ranging and lasting impacts.
I very much enjoyed the first half of the book I think because I was not around for those events so reading about Watergate and Jonestown were interesting. But from the Clinton's onward I found them less compelling because I lived through those stories and all of the media coverage. The Post was even my local paper from 2002 through 2010 so I knew what their coverage of Iraq was.
At this time when all forms of media are being attacked it was good to read a book about some of the great stories and accomplishments of journalism in the 20th century. It reminds us of what investigative journalism and why it is important.
December 24, 2020
A Good Memoir From an Eyewitness to Late 20th Century America
Please visit I. David’s Blog: Focus on Non-Fiction Books at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
All About the Story: News, Power, Politics, and the Washington Post is Leonard Downie, Jr’s memoir of his 44 year career at the Washington Post. Downie starts his story with the anecdote of how he was accidentally hired as an intern with the Post in 1964. His first assignments led to articles on abuse, influence and bribery in the Washington, D.C. court system. This early experience with investigative reporting inspired much of his later work as both a reporter and editor.
Downie describes his experiences as a reporter, both national and international, and his progression up the editorial ranks until, in 1991, he succeeded Ben Bradley as Executive Editor of the Post. He fills the book with details of the Post’s coverage of the well-known stories that occurred during his career. These include Watergate, the Jonestown Massacre, the capture of the Unibomber, the multiple recounts and court battles after the Bush/Gore election, the 9/11 tragedy, the Afghan and Iraq wars, the leaking of the name of CIA agent Valerie Plame and the revelation of the United State’s extreme interrogation practices at sites in several Eastern European countries.
He spends several chapters describing the evolution of the media’s coverage of the private lives of public figures during the 1980s and 1990s. He explains that the media was historically reluctant to report on the private lives of public figures. But, he says, everything changed with the coverage of Gary Hart prior to the 1988 election. This change played to his strength as an investigative reporter. He describes how, as Executive Editor, he managed investigations of public figures including Marion Barry, Robert Packwood, John Towers, Wilbur Mills, Wayne Hayes and, of course, Bill Clinton. And he explains what standards he used to determine when these stories needed to be published.
The strength of this book is in Downie’s detailed description of behind the scenes activities in the Post newsroom related to how stories are assigned, how management deals with pressure from powerful outsiders, how editors decide which stories to print and how stories are finally edited. Since I was generally familiar with the stories themselves, hearing how they were covered was very enlightening.
Unfortunately the book also had its weaknesses. Throughout the book Downie maintains the voice of a dispassionate newspaper reporter. As a result, the reader never really gets to know Leonard Downie, Jr. We learn about his stories, his career and his awards. But we know very little about his personal thoughts regarding the events and people about whom he wrote.
There were times when he tried to display his inner feelings, such as when he witnessed the return of the American hostages from their captivity in Iran. He said that it was very emotional and that “there was a tear in my eye.” I saw his words, but I did not get the feeling from his writing.
He does not seem to be some type of resolute newsman who is unable to write in a voice other than that of a newsman. In fact, I really felt his sadness in the last two chapters of the book where he describes his departure from the Post and the subsequent sale of the Post to Jeff Bezos. I just wish that he had revealed more of himself elsewhere in the book. Instead, as the title of the book says, Downie made his memoir “All About the Story” and not about his feelings.
Notwithstanding the fact that I would have liked to have seen more of the inner Leonard Downie, Jr., this was a very good book for anyone interested in late 20th century American history or the newspaper business in general. I give it 4 stars.
Please visit I. David’s Blog: Focus on Non-Fiction Books at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
All About the Story: News, Power, Politics, and the Washington Post is Leonard Downie, Jr’s memoir of his 44 year career at the Washington Post. Downie starts his story with the anecdote of how he was accidentally hired as an intern with the Post in 1964. His first assignments led to articles on abuse, influence and bribery in the Washington, D.C. court system. This early experience with investigative reporting inspired much of his later work as both a reporter and editor.
Downie describes his experiences as a reporter, both national and international, and his progression up the editorial ranks until, in 1991, he succeeded Ben Bradley as Executive Editor of the Post. He fills the book with details of the Post’s coverage of the well-known stories that occurred during his career. These include Watergate, the Jonestown Massacre, the capture of the Unibomber, the multiple recounts and court battles after the Bush/Gore election, the 9/11 tragedy, the Afghan and Iraq wars, the leaking of the name of CIA agent Valerie Plame and the revelation of the United State’s extreme interrogation practices at sites in several Eastern European countries.
He spends several chapters describing the evolution of the media’s coverage of the private lives of public figures during the 1980s and 1990s. He explains that the media was historically reluctant to report on the private lives of public figures. But, he says, everything changed with the coverage of Gary Hart prior to the 1988 election. This change played to his strength as an investigative reporter. He describes how, as Executive Editor, he managed investigations of public figures including Marion Barry, Robert Packwood, John Towers, Wilbur Mills, Wayne Hayes and, of course, Bill Clinton. And he explains what standards he used to determine when these stories needed to be published.
The strength of this book is in Downie’s detailed description of behind the scenes activities in the Post newsroom related to how stories are assigned, how management deals with pressure from powerful outsiders, how editors decide which stories to print and how stories are finally edited. Since I was generally familiar with the stories themselves, hearing how they were covered was very enlightening.
Unfortunately the book also had its weaknesses. Throughout the book Downie maintains the voice of a dispassionate newspaper reporter. As a result, the reader never really gets to know Leonard Downie, Jr. We learn about his stories, his career and his awards. But we know very little about his personal thoughts regarding the events and people about whom he wrote.
There were times when he tried to display his inner feelings, such as when he witnessed the return of the American hostages from their captivity in Iran. He said that it was very emotional and that “there was a tear in my eye.” I saw his words, but I did not get the feeling from his writing.
He does not seem to be some type of resolute newsman who is unable to write in a voice other than that of a newsman. In fact, I really felt his sadness in the last two chapters of the book where he describes his departure from the Post and the subsequent sale of the Post to Jeff Bezos. I just wish that he had revealed more of himself elsewhere in the book. Instead, as the title of the book says, Downie made his memoir “All About the Story” and not about his feelings.
Notwithstanding the fact that I would have liked to have seen more of the inner Leonard Downie, Jr., this was a very good book for anyone interested in late 20th century American history or the newspaper business in general. I give it 4 stars.
May 7, 2024
Downie's career at the Washington Post is fascinating. While I enjoyed his reminiscing on the big stories, the background, decision-making process, and insight are light with the detail and often a summary of the story. Even the controversial decision to report the private lives of public figures lacks drama. The author mentions how unheard of it was to make this journalistic change, and he struggled with his decision; the narrative could be more varied. He describes what others are doing but not so much what he thinks, which is an odd decision for a memoir. The theme of journalistic integrity is essential, but after reading this, I have no greater understanding of Downie or his process. He often states what he did, briefly explaining internal policy and moving on to the next story. As a light history book, it is good, but an insight into the author, less.
September 28, 2020
Leonard Downie Jr. at 22 years of age in 1964 who also was a recent graduate of Ohio State lands an intern position at the Washington Post. In the 44 years that he spent there he worked his way up from intern to executive editor a position that he held for 16 to 17 years. During those 16 years the paper under his direction was awarded 25 Pulitzer prizes.
While working early on at the Post he was instrumental in bringing back investigative journalism and doing it in his early twenty's. Reporting on subjects like a shoddy court system around Washington D.C., people getting swindled on home improvements and crooked mortgaging companies. He gave a voice to the voiceless. He did this with a belief that personal opinions had a place only on the editorial page . Whether you grew up during this time or you want to look back on subjects from the past 40 or 50 years from the view point of prominent newspaper as the Washington Post on subjects as the Vietnam war, Watergate, Carter administration and the hostages in Iran, Reagan presidency, Margert Thatcher, England and the IRA, Weapons of mass destruction and the investigations of Clintons on various issues you will like this book. I thought it was interesting how many time the person known as Deepthroat was almost revealed. This book took a little bit of time to get through but it was a very informative read. Thank you to Perseus Books and Netgalley for an ARC for a fair and honest review.
While working early on at the Post he was instrumental in bringing back investigative journalism and doing it in his early twenty's. Reporting on subjects like a shoddy court system around Washington D.C., people getting swindled on home improvements and crooked mortgaging companies. He gave a voice to the voiceless. He did this with a belief that personal opinions had a place only on the editorial page . Whether you grew up during this time or you want to look back on subjects from the past 40 or 50 years from the view point of prominent newspaper as the Washington Post on subjects as the Vietnam war, Watergate, Carter administration and the hostages in Iran, Reagan presidency, Margert Thatcher, England and the IRA, Weapons of mass destruction and the investigations of Clintons on various issues you will like this book. I thought it was interesting how many time the person known as Deepthroat was almost revealed. This book took a little bit of time to get through but it was a very informative read. Thank you to Perseus Books and Netgalley for an ARC for a fair and honest review.
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January 18, 2025Interesting for a while, but outstays its welcome by the end. Some chapters, such as the one on Princess Diana, end too quickly. Worth checking out, but don't be surprised if you end up skimming over parts
November 18, 2020
Highly entertaining memoir from another fascinating period of the venerable Washington Post. Especially relevant during the current administration's assault on real journalism and journalists.
December 29, 2020
An outstanding summation of work during 1965-2008 at the highest levels of journalism, including struggles over what to publish and when. In addition, it's a highly useful review of national issues during the period, including political scandals, CIA secrets and much more.
May 20, 2022
Fantastic read.
August 10, 2025
It wasn't a bad book but I couldn't get into it.
September 18, 2020
"We were not motivated by personal or institutional bias. We were pursuing the truth, however imperfectly at times, and holding the powerful accountable - not propagating 'fake news'." What a foreign concept to the way "news" is reported today.
This was a really great book about specific eye witness experiences of historical events. I was held captive by details and the lengths the journalists and editors, at The Washington Post, went through to tell the stories in order to get it right.
The hubris of the people involved at the highest levels in our government continue to be their downfall and yet another with lofty goals and ideas believes this time they will have better luck. It was and is the responsibility of the press to hold them accountable and get to the truth. When we hear "fake news" it is should be a red flag to us all that we are about to be treated to smoke and mirrors, and misdirection. These are the times we should be looking more closely as shown in this book.
The parallels between Trump and Nixon are eerie. I remember Hilary Clinton's anger at negative reporting about their actions past and during their time in the White House and calling it "a right wing conspiracy." It was the first time I ever heard that phrase. I was especially interested in the afterward about Trump. Even though he was not a reporter nor was he and editor, but they are interesting and relevant. Trump says to Leslie Stahl regarding his attack on the media "I do it to discredit you all and demean you all, so that, when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you." This is direct attack on the freedom of the press. Luckily for us there are still reporters that believe in the truth and fight the lies to bring it to all of us, well at least those of us that are interested in the truth.
Thank you Mr. Downie Jr. for all your hard work and your efforts at getting and then ultimately sharing your birds eye view to the truth, something we see little of today. Well done!!!
This was a really great book about specific eye witness experiences of historical events. I was held captive by details and the lengths the journalists and editors, at The Washington Post, went through to tell the stories in order to get it right.
The hubris of the people involved at the highest levels in our government continue to be their downfall and yet another with lofty goals and ideas believes this time they will have better luck. It was and is the responsibility of the press to hold them accountable and get to the truth. When we hear "fake news" it is should be a red flag to us all that we are about to be treated to smoke and mirrors, and misdirection. These are the times we should be looking more closely as shown in this book.
The parallels between Trump and Nixon are eerie. I remember Hilary Clinton's anger at negative reporting about their actions past and during their time in the White House and calling it "a right wing conspiracy." It was the first time I ever heard that phrase. I was especially interested in the afterward about Trump. Even though he was not a reporter nor was he and editor, but they are interesting and relevant. Trump says to Leslie Stahl regarding his attack on the media "I do it to discredit you all and demean you all, so that, when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you." This is direct attack on the freedom of the press. Luckily for us there are still reporters that believe in the truth and fight the lies to bring it to all of us, well at least those of us that are interested in the truth.
Thank you Mr. Downie Jr. for all your hard work and your efforts at getting and then ultimately sharing your birds eye view to the truth, something we see little of today. Well done!!!
April 30, 2020
This was much better than I thought it was going to be and a behind the scenes look into a well known newspaper that has been around a long time. The author has been fascinated with news and journalism hos whole life and was lucky to get a job as an intern during his senior year of high school. Unlike some newspapers and columnists that share false news. Downie strives to share nothing but the truth even if it angers his boss and coworkers.
This had great insight into the journalism world and that it isn't as easy it looks. I appreciate the candor and honesty the author shares about his beloved career. I felt like I was along for the entire ride. Absolutely fascinating and a different kind of read for me. I hope he writes more because I would read it.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available;: 9/22/20
This had great insight into the journalism world and that it isn't as easy it looks. I appreciate the candor and honesty the author shares about his beloved career. I felt like I was along for the entire ride. Absolutely fascinating and a different kind of read for me. I hope he writes more because I would read it.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available;: 9/22/20
June 5, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and PublicAffairs for giving me the chance to read Len Downie’s upcoming memoir. Typically I am not a fan of the memoir genre but I have a huge fascination for all things journalism, and especially the Washington Post, so this caught my eye. I must say I was not familiar with Len Downie, I only knew of other Washington Post editors from movies (All the President’s Men, The Post, Spotlight). Downie’s stories were fascinating and gave a great look at the decisions and stresses going on in the newsroom. The book was also a fantastic recent history lesson covering from the 1968 MLK assassination through the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. I highly recommend this title.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews