Star Journos Take Buyouts at the 'Washington Post'

If this isn't the end of an era, I don't know what is. It's buyout time at the Washington Post, and some of the paper's very biggest names are among the takers.

Politico reports that David Broder, the so-called dean of the D.C. press corps, is leaving the paper's staff after 43 years. But the 78-year-old journo will continue to write his column as a contract employee of the Post, and will even keep his office.

Also leaving is Tony Kornheiser, a Postie of 29-year vintage and one of the nation's most prominent sportswriters thanks to his radio and TV shows.

And looming above it all is the possibility that the Post's executive editor, Len Downie, will take the buyout as well. Downie has been cagey on the subject, but what little he's said has indicated an intention to exit sooner than later. The paper's recent six-Pulitzer sweep would make for a nice valedictory moment. Politico has a rundown of the likely candidates to replace him.