Lee Rood has been the Reader’s Watchdog at the Des Moines Register since 2012. A longtime investigative reporter and editor, she created the unique column to help readers find answers and accountability from government, businesses and nonprofits.
After nearly a decade in that post, she’s known across the state of Iowa as a voice for Iowans, writing about the serious problems that affect their lives.
She’s exposed individuals who have preyed on vulnerable populations or wronged consumers, and uncovered wasted tax dollars and excessive government spending. Her work has led to changes in state and federal law, triggered court action and arrests, and prompted good deeds and community action by readers moved by her columns.
Rood’s work as a problem-solver and whistleblower has been so successful in achieving results and building loyal readership, her column has been replicated at other Gannett sites across the country.
The daughter of a sociologist and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Rood spent her childhood school years in Omaha, Neb., and her summers in Washington, D.C. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and attended graduate school in communications at Drake University.
After leading a team of reporters who covered crime, government and politics at the St. Cloud Times in Minnesota, she moved to Iowa in 1997 to become an assistant metro editor at the Register. She became an investigative reporter in 2004 and served as the Register’s projects-investigations editor for eight years.
As a reporter, Rood’s covered any number of disasters, from extensive flooding to devasting tornadoes to plane crashes. She’s trailed numerous presidential candidates during the Iowa caucuses and broken some of the biggest stories to affect state government in the past quarter century.
One of her greatest gifts has been identifying trends and issues emerging out of both rural and urban Iowa. Register Editor Carol Hunter describes Rood as a reporter with an “unrelenting knack for getting the story.”
A dedicated traveler, Rood has returned to the same Cretan village in Greece annually for 20 years. She’s been to 30 countries, 48 states, every county in Iowa and walked every neighborhood in Des Moines.
A mother of two grown daughters, she’s an avid gardener, reader and lover of live music. She lives in Des Moines with her dog, Molly.
Des Moines Register, Reader’s Watchdog columnist
2012 – present
Des Moines Register, investigations and projects editor
2004 to 2012
Des Moines Register, senior reporter and investigative reporter
1997 to 2004
Des Moines Register, assistant metro editor
1997 to 1999
St. Cloud Times, government, crime and politics editor
1994 to 1997
Drake University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1991 to 2003
Twelve hours toward a master’s degree in communications at both universities, maintaining a 4.0 GPA while working full-time.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1985-1990
Obtained a bachelor’s in news-editorial journalism with minors in political science, Russian and history. Worked full-time at the student newspaper during those years.
Internships:
Des Moines Register, Providence Journal, Washington Post and States News Service
Other training:
Years-long member of, and presenter for, Investigative Reporters and Editors, the largest organization training investigative journalists in the world.
Numerous management seminars, including a year-long leadership course at Drake University.
Several journalism fellowships and specialized training courses focusing on ethics, immigration, diversity, computer-assisted reporting and addiction studies.
Iowa Associated Press Managing Editors– First place for investigative reporting in 2010, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001.
Newswriting sweepstakes award for body of work in 2008.
Iowa Newspaper Association – Harrison “Skip” Weber Award for investigative reporting in 2001, 2002 and 2011 and 2016.
Best news story in 2001, 2003 and 2016.
Newswriting sweepstakes and best series in 2012.
Master columnist in 2016.
Best of the Register – Editor’s Choice Award, the newsroom’s top honor for a body of work in 2010.
North American Agriculture Journalists – Editor of 2008 first-place winner in the national contest for “Fueling Iowa’ Future,” a seven-month staff project.
Society of American Business Editors and Writers – First place in 2007 for special projects.
Gerald Loeb Award – National finalist in 2008.
National Headliner Awards – Third place in 2008 for “Who Deserves to Drive?” a web-driven series about the record number of Iowans losing their licenses due to overdue court fines.
Investigative Reporters and Editors – National finalist for a series of stories in 2004 that led to Congress make changes in federal HUD law.
IowaWatch – Master mentor in 2016.
Unity Awards in Media – First place in the national contest for investigative journalism in 2003 and 2005.
National Associated Press Managing Editors – Shared national Freedom of Information Award for a body of work in 2001.
Scripps Howard Foundation – Shared national award for First Amendment coverage in 2001.