David Broder, Tony Kornheiser Take Buyouts At Washington Post

Two big names have accepted buyouts at the Washington Post today, with both veteran political columnist David Broder and sports columnist Tony Kornheiser taking the paper's offer.

The Politico's Michael Calderone reports that Broder announced the news in a note to his column clients, but that he will transition to a contract writer in 2009:

Veteran Washington Post political columnist David Broder is going to take a buyout from the paper. As of Jan 1, 2009, he will become a contract employee of the Post.

Here's a note sent to Broder's column clients, obtained by Politico.

"The column you have been running will not change at all, and you will continue to receive it from The Washington Post Writers Group. I will continue to write from the same office in the Post newsroom and will continue to travel the country to wherever politics is happening. You will find me at the Democratic and Republican conventions this summer and on the campaign trail this fall, just as I have been this winter and spring."

Read the entire note here.

The Washington Post's Dan Steinberg reports that Kornheiser announced the news on his radio show:

Dang. From his radio show a few minutes ago:

"All I ever wanted to be was a newspaper writer," he said, which is likely not something that anyone under the age of 30 will ever say again. "This other stuff is great, but I don't care about it," he continued. "In my mind that's what it says on the headstone, it says 'newspaper guy.' "

But he also said he signed the papers to take the Post's buyout last night, after working here for, I believe, 29 years. He said he still might contract with The Post to do his Talking Points videos and his Page 2 excerpts, and he said some people in the leadership asked him to stay but didn't really insist, and even though he'll keep doing PTI and the radio show and MNF, he said he feared he'd never have the moral high ground again.

Read Kornheiser's complete comments here.

Comments

[mellene]

David Broder has been interesting to read over the years. Too bad that we'll lose another journalist.

[regis18]

Broder, I can understand but not Kornheiser. More importantly, where the hell is Fred Hyatt? Surely he must be on the list.

[knosiswar]

Now if we can only get MNF to buy him out. HIs color commentary is always the trashy tabloid kind. I think that's why Theisman quit after having to work and listen and comment on player's personal lives and dirty laundry. I understand he makes a living killing time, i just which he wasn't doing it on MNF.

[nitpicker]

I grew up with those guys. They put in the time and are like military veterans. Give them their leave. That being said, they have outlived their welcome. I don't mean that they haven't got anything to say, but jeez just because they say it don't make it so. Opinions are like, well, mouths--everybody has one, but they have exploited their venue to embarassment. Thank you for your service but goodbye. I'm betting that the other offers dry up in six months.
See ya!

[Moose49]

It's long past time for The Washington Post to give the best columnist writing today, Harold Meyerson, three columns a week, just to balance out all the right-wing crazies they run like George Will, Robert Novak, Charles Krauthammer and Michael Gerson. If they need to cut someone to make space, they could always move Broder, who is long past his prime, back to once a week.

[PoliSciJunkie]

There is plenty of opportunity and grounds to criticize Broader because he is pretty anemic compared to 20 years ago and has been living on his laurels for a long time. There's negative opinion cited here too about Will, Krauthammer, and Novack in these comments. So my question is, who are some commentators, columnists, even some journalists if any are breathing, to the right of center that people like, see as relevant, instructive and other positive attributes? And please, try some names and talent beyond Hannity, Rush and Colter, all of whom serve up very thin gruel. Thanks!!

[yathink]

When will we say goodbye to George Will? He believes that the minimum wage should be $0 per hour. good plan for him.

[Namaimo]

We will have to endure Broder until 2009. Sheesh. He is like Hillary.

[Namaimo]

Hallelujah! two dinosaurs going away. The times they are a'changin' ! When are Krauthammer & Novak & Will going? And many more to go -- 90 percent of the OpEd page would be good. I'll be watching, then eventually, I might re-subscribe.

[BushBites]

Hey Broder?

Still waiting for that Bush Bounce?

LOL!

[Rockerbabe]

The fewer old men with their old ideas, especially about women and Hillary in particular - the better. Good by and good riddance.

[wallyinindy]

Broder is a has been that never was. Good riddance.

[avraamjack]

.
Slow end of Great era almost complete.
.
.

[CompliantMedia]

"...especially when he titled one of his books "Back for Money"."

Should be "Back for More Money."

I hate those pesky senior moments!

[RobtBrock]

Broder's column will be syndicated to newspapers that want it. Papers in places like Ardmore, Oklahoma...Topeka, Kansas...Odessa, Texas.