• Editor & Publisher, Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:30 AM

Ben Bradlee, former Washington Post executive editor, tries to calm worries about the expected departure of editor Leonard Downie Jr. and upcoming buyouts. Bradlee, of Watergate fame, admits this is big, "but I don't see a wrenching change in direction."

He says the bigger change was the appointment of publisher Katharine Weymouth, granddaughter of his former boss publisher Katharine Graham. Bradlee contends having a Graham family member in charge is a plus, even with major editorial job cuts. Nonetheless, he is skeptical about the buyouts. "I'd like to see a study of how many people are rehired under contract."

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