More Than 100 Opt in for 'Washington Post' Buyout

By: Joe Strupp More than 100 newsroom staffers have signed up to take the buyout at The Washington Post, according to Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr. He said that was less than half of those eligible for the offer that pays up to two year's of salary depending on time of service.

The deadline to sign up was 5 p.m. on Thursday. Employees have seven days from then to change their minds.

"Other parts of the paper were also eligible, but I only know about the newsroom," Downie told E&P Friday. "Some people signed up to give themselves another seven days to think about it."

The buyout, which was offered to all newspaper employees who are 50 years of age or older with five years at the paper, has drawn immense speculation in and out of the newspaper. One point of interest has been the number of top editors and big names, including columnists David Broder and Tony Kornheiser, who reportedly signed up to take the early retirement.

Post sources indicate that staffers in copy editing, news art, and the style, book world, travel, and home sections have taken the offer. At least one of the paper's three film critics is also apparently on the buyout list.

Downie said about 230 of the newsroom's more than 700-person staff were eligible. "I think this is roughly what one would expect," Downie said about the 100-plus sign-up rate. "Of course, we will miss the people who are leaving. We will have to restructure the newspaper. We will do that."

Downie, whose own future at the paper has also been the subject of immense speculation and rumor, said he and Managing Editor Phil Bennett spoke with each eligible newsroom employee, making sure they knew that restructuring would occur if they stayed: "We told people in general we would be restructuring, and that, in some cases, roles would change."

Downie did not cite specific changes to come, but said they would include working with the Web site and mentioned some that had already taken place in the A section.

"It has been a continuing process," he said. Asked about his own future, which has been the subject of interest for months, especially since the arrival of new publisher Katharine Weymouth, Downie said he remains on the job.

As for the ongoing blog rumors and reports about him that have reached new heights this week, Downie said, "People must be hard up for subjects. ... The publisher and I are hard at work on the restructuring of the newsroom and its relationship with the Web site. I am still working in my office."