In addition to his role as co-anchor, Downs goes into the field to report news features for 20/20 and to profile important personalities. He prefers to concentrate on issues of science, medicine, aging, adventure, the fine arts and family. He also provides commentary in connection with various 20/20 reports.

Some of Downs' most recent segments have included a report on the groundbreaking scientific discovery of telomerase, an "immortalizing enzyme" which in lab tests increased the lifespan of human cells by 40-50%; a profile of Carla Dunne, a courageous young woman who overcame blindness to become a world-class (and Olympic) athlete, including a reunion with the pediatrician who took her sight as a precaution against cancer; a report on turbulence, one of the leading causes of passenger injuries during airline flights; and a revealing look at the short-term memory loss associated with aging and how it can be prevented.