PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE
By Ian Mayes

Philip M. Foisie
1922-1995

The name of Philip M. Foisie will be remembered among fellow journalists and those who observe us as a synonym for our proudest traditions: skillful editing, objectivity, the highest ethical standards and a firm, lasting belief in the First Amendment.

Mr. Foisie was born in 1922 in Seattle, Wash., and died in 1995 in Alexandria, Va.

After serving in the Army in World War II, Mr. Foisie began his daily newspaper career with the San Francisco Chronicle. He later worked for the Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat and the Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal.

He joined The Washington Post in 1955, became its foreign editor in 1963 and was named assistant managing editor for foreign news in 1968. Katharine Graham, former publisher of The Post, called him "the father of foreign coverage at The Post." Mr. Foisie was an early board member of the Los Angeles Times/Washington Post News Service.

In 1969, Mr. Foisie proposed to Mrs. Graham and other news executives that The Post appoint an ombudsman who would not only provide internal critiques, but would address the newspaper's conduct and content through a published column. Much of the format he proposed remains in place today.

Mr. Foisie was executive editor of the International Herald Tribune for six years during the 1980s. He was appointed the first ombudsman at Stars and Stripes in 1989 and served in that post for three years. During that time he was an active member of the Organization of News Ombudsmen.

Following the death of Philip M. Foisie his family and friends established a fund with the Organization of News Ombudsmen that will allow ONO and others in journalism to honor Mr. Foisie's commitment to excellence, ethics and ombudsmanship through a series of lectures presented at ONO's annual meetings from 1996 to 2000 and distributed throughout the journalism profession. The fund was also used to finance ONO's Web site.

2000 Foisie Lecture
David S. Broder, reporter and columnist, The Washington Post
May 22, 2000, Montreal, Canada

1999 Foisie Lecture
E.J. Dionne, reporter and columnist, The Washington Post
May 12, 1999, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

1998 Foisie Lecture
Sandra Mims Rowe, editor, The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon
May 12, 1998, San Diego, California, U.S.A.

1997 Foisie Lecture
Jordan "Buzz" Rizer, director of the American Forces Information Service
May 6, 1997, Barcelona, Spain

1996 Foisie Lecture
Benjamin C. Bradlee, former executive editor, The Washington Post
May 7, 1996, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

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