Harwood, Richard Lee

▪ 2002

      American journalist (b. March 29, 1925, Chilton, Wis.—d. March 19, 2001, Bethesda, Md.), was a top editor at the Washington Post. After working for newspapers in Tennessee and Kentucky, Harwood joined the Post as a reporter in 1966. He was appointed the newspaper's national editor two years later. Harwood attracted attention when he was named to serve as the newspaper's in-house critic, or “ombudsman,” in which capacity he scrutinized the Post's news coverage and editorial policies. In 1974 Harwood became editor of the Washington Post Co.-owned Trenton (N.J.) Times. He returned to the Post as deputy managing editor in 1977 and retired in 1988. Harwood was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Society of Professional Journalists in 1997.

* * *