Who would have guessed? Len Downie has written a novel.

First-time novelists can be secretive about their work, and the Post’s executive editor has declined an interview. This we hear from sources: He’s been working on it for at least two years. The plot is about journalists and politicians. He’s ready to publish.

Downie, who turned 65 on May 1, succeeded Ben Bradlee as executive editor in 1991. He is said to have reveled in the writing. Could this hint at life after the Post?

This article first appeared in the October 2007 issue of Washingtonian Magazine, available on newsstands. 

Attaboys are hard to come by in most newsrooms. Writers have come to expect the standard “What have you done for me lately?” reaction from editors.

Now the Washington Post has come up with a surefire way to make its employees know they are valued cogs in the wheel of news production. Gary Corso, director of administration and operating services at the paper of Watergate fame, this week authored the following memo:

“The Northwest cafeteria Coffee Cart is offering Post managers an opportunity to reward their employees with tickets for either a free box of popcorn or a free 16-ounce regular coffee. Tickets must be purchased in sheets of ten and can only be redeemed at the Northwest Coffee cart. The price is $11.00 for ten popcorn tickets and $15.50 for ten 16 oz. regular coffee tickets. (Taxes are included)

Reaction to the new rewards policy was swift. On the Post’s internal message board, one staffer recommended that the popcorn system be incorporated by the newspaper guild:

NEW CONTRACT ANNOUNCED

The Newspaper Guild today announced they have reached a new agreement with the Washington Post that will have the company’s employees paid in popcorn kernels rather than dollars. Under the groundbreaking agreement, employees will receive a kernal-for-dollar equivalent starting next month. Direct deposits will no longer be available, however paychecks can be picked up popped or unpopped.

NEW CONTRACT ANNOUNCED

The Newspaper Guild today announced they have revoked their recently-reached agreement with the Washington Post to pay employees in popcorn kernels in favor of a new contract that requires employees to work for free. The Guild touted the contract’s key provision—a two-for-one 12-ounce ale coupon for the Dogfish Head Alehouse opening soon in Falls Church.

The Washingtonian expects that newspapers across the nation will examine the Post’s landmark reward system to see if it can reduce newsroom costs.

For Susan Sweat, completing the Cherry Blossom Ten-Mile run and the Potomac River Half Marathon this spring were parts of a larger goal—one that no one except her husband and a few close friends knew about. Sweat was training to become the next Mrs. District of Columbia.

“A girlfriend convinced me to enter the pageant,” says Sweat, who works as a legislative director for Mississippi Congressman Roger Wicker. “My husband is in the Air Force. He was deployed to Iraq last year, which was difficult.” Sweat’s friend thought entering the Mrs. DC Pageant would distract Susan from her husband’s absence. The plan worked, and after a few months of brushing up on her interview skills, selecting her wardrobe, and running along the Mall or in the Hill staff gym, Sweat took the day off on June 27. “I didn’t tell anyone why, just that I needed to take a personal day. The state pageant happened at a really busy time at work and people were really concerned!”

Sweat won the competition to become Mrs. District of Columbia 2007 and go on to the Mrs. America Pageant. One of 51 contestants in the competition held in Tucson, Arizona, August 22 to September 5, Sweat finished among the final 15. The program will air Friday, September 21, at 8:00 PM on WE-TV.

Sweat says one upside of visiting the Grand Canyon State was that contestants learned to round up cattle. A downside: the deadly wildlife. Mrs. Tennessee, Christina Ryan, was bitten by a rattlesnake on the way to a rehearsal—she stepped on the creature after jumping sideways to avoid a tarantula. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. California, Kelly Stornetta, was stung by a giant centipede, causing her arm to swell. Both women were treated at the local hospital and back in high heels in time for the competition. “There are a lot of critters in Tucson that we don’t have in DC,” says Sweat—“rattlesnakes, tarantulas, centipedes!” Fortunately, she managed to steer clear of the creepy crawlers.