By: Joe Strupp The National Press Foundation will present the Benjamin C. Bradlee Award for Editor of the Year to Leonard Downie Jr., former Executive Editor of The Washington Post, NPF announced Tuesday.
Downie, who retired from the job earlier this year after 40 years at the paper, including 17 as editor, worked under Bradlee as managing editor prior to replacing him in 1991.
The award will be presented at NPF?s 26th annual awards dinner on Feb. 10, 2009, at the Hilton Washington Hotel.
"The judges noted that during Mr. Downie?s 17-year leadership of the Post?s newsroom, its staff won 25 Pulitzer prizes, including three Pulitzer Gold Medals for Public Service," an announcement said. "They cited his support for the development of the Post?s web site, emphasis on local reporting and his leadership of the paper through several economically difficult times. He is currently Vice President at Large at the Washington Post Co."
The award dates back to 1984 and has been given previously to David Remnick of The New Yorker; Martin Baron of The Boston Globe; and Paul Steiger of The Wall Street Journal.
Word of the award comes just a day after Arizona State University announced that Downie would join the staff of its Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
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