FishbowlDC has learned that the Washington Post's diplomatic correspondent Robin Wright has taken the paper's buyout. In a note to colleagues, Wright says, "This is the moment to capitalize on the generous acclaim for my book to do another -- and then maybe more of the long-form journalism I used to do and miss. The clincher was looking at a State Department Correspondents Association card with my name on it -- dated 1978. I've been doing this long enough."

Also taking the buyout: Bill Brubaker. "After 22 years with The Washington Post's Sports, Financial, Continuous News and Metro sections I will miss many things about this great newspaper. But I came to Washington from a magazine (Sports Illustrated) and plan to return to magazine writing on a freelance basis, beginning this fall. This will be fun. Like many of my colleagues, I felt the buyout offer was just too good to pass up."

(Also note that Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb has taken the buyout. So, too, we hear has Athelia Knight).

Then the WaPo wants you! The Post's Pam Kendrick sent out this announcement to staffers today:

With Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb's decision to accept the early retirement offer, we are seeking a skilled editor to succeed her as Obituaries Editor.

Replacing Yvonne will not be easy. She did an exceptional job, raising the quality of our obituaries, introducing innovations in print and online, and managing a staff through a relentless workload.

Qualifications for the position include: A love for the craft of the well-told obituary; impeccable reporting and writing skills; deep knowledge about a host of subjects; a competitive streak; a passion for history and biography; and the capacity to deal effectively and compassionately with the public.

The Obituaries Editor, while reporting and writing obits, supervises a team of experienced reporters. The duties include assigning and editing stories, scheduling, doing staff evaluations, and coordinating with the News Desk, the Metro Copy Desk, other sections, the Photo Desk and WPNI editors. Previous editing experience is preferred but not a prerequisite.

Our policy on obits makes The Post unique in the industry. In addition to reporting on the deaths of the well-known, we will do an obituary on anyone who has lived a substantial portion of his or her life in the Washington region. Obituaries are the news stories that bring The Post into the most intimate contact with its readers.

We are looking for someone with an editor's eye and a reporter's zest, someone who can move the paper further along in its quest to deliver the best news obituaries anywhere. We plan to fill this job internally.

earlier: "Is Downie...Gone?!?"

Erik Wemple heard similar rumors and called Downie last night:

Last night, Washington City Paper called Downie to ask about this big, huge, major announcement on Thursday. His response: "There's no announcement coming on Thursday."

Maybe Friday?

One Postie tells us that the bottom is that Downie's gone, regardless of when (within a few months, at the latest most likely). The only real question is who will succeed him and the fact that Katharine Weymouth hasn't found a replacement may explain why Downie's still around.

>UPDATE: Michael Calderone speculates on who might replace Downie and check out FishbowlDC's earlier speculation on that subject.

This is a friendly call for reader tips / emails / notes on the inner-workings of your news organization for our "Revolving Door" feature.

Who's leaving?

Who just arrived?

Who's switching beats?

Let us know by emailing us at fishbowldc AT mediabistro DOT com or dropping a line in the tips box.

From an internal Washington Post announcement, obtained by FishbowlDC:

We are pleased to announce that Monica Norton will be our new Technology Editor. Her experience directing education coverage (students are early adopters of technology), as well as her strong eye for interesting stories, makes her a terrific fit for this job. Monica is well liked by her reporters and her colleagues and we are eager to have her join our section.

Monica was a reporter at The Evening Sun and The Baltimore Sun and was an editor at Gannett Suburban Newspapers in White Plains and Newsday. She joined The Post in 2005 and is currently education editor on the Maryland desk, where she oversees schools coverage and edits the Monday Education Page.

Monica is a native of Baltimore who will never root for the Redskins. (It's a Baltimore thing). After reading James Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk in the 7th grade, she decided she wanted to live in Paris as a writer, which she may still do someday. Monica will move to the Financial staff on May 27.

FishbowlDC has learned that the following Washington Post employees are taking the paper's buyout package:

Kathy Legg (Art Director for Travel and Food)
Don Podesta (AME/Copy Desk)
Sue Anne Pressley
Joe Elbert (former AME/Photo)
JoEllen Murphy (Art Director, HOME)

>UPDATE: One tipster says, "And when Don Podesta leaves, so does his job (head of copy editors). The section heads will regain control over their corresponding copy desks, just like it was before Podesta."

The WaPo's Linton Weeks and Mike Keegan are taking the buyout, FishbowlDC has learned.

Below is a staff note obtained by FishbowlDC from Gerry Marzorati, editor of The New York Times Magazine, welcoming Peter Baker to the magazine:

Folks,

Our distinguished stable of contributing writers is about to getŠwell, more distinguished. Peter Baker, the Washington Post's senior White House correspondent, is joining the Magazine.

Over the past 20 years, Baker has had a number of important beats with the Post, and his name has been a regular feature of that paper's front-page.

He covered the Clinton White House, and wrote a best-selling book, "The Breach," about the Clinton-Lewinsky controversy and the impeachment of the President. He served as the Post's Moscow Bureau chief - and co-authored, with his wife Susan Glasser, a book on Vladimir Putin -- and has reported on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Along with covering the Bush White House, Baker has contributed to the Post's campaign coverage (including a column for their on-line election diary, The Trail); is a regular panelist on PBS's "Washington Week"; and is currently working on a book on the Bush presidency to be published by Doubleday.

He is worldly, aggressive, and ambitious about his reporting and his writing -- all things that will quickly make him a valued magazine journalist.

Expect to see his first cover story for us in the fall.

Gerry

The Washington Post's Peter Baker sent this farewell note, obtained by FishbowlDC, to his colleagues today. Baker is joining the New York Times.

Dear friends and colleagues,

This is the note I never expected to write. I'd always figured my farewell to the Post would come in the form of a tiny little obituary stuffed at the bottom of B6: "Ancient Reporter Keels Over On Deadline." But life is full of surprises and it turns out that after 20 wonderful years at the Post, it's time to move on.

While I'm excited about future opportunities, this is also a wrenching moment, for nearly everyone I love in the world, it seems, works right here. The Post has been home for nearly my entire adult life and has given me everything I could ever want, including a beautiful and amazing wife. For a kid who grew up in the Washington suburbs devouring every morning's Post, working here has been literally a dream come true. There's no finer team of journalists or colleagues. But change is good for people, just as it is for newspapers.

Thank you for all your support and friendship through good times and bad. Please stay in touch. I can be reached at [REDACTED].

All best,
Peter Baker

The WaPo's AME/Style, Deb Heard, has taken the paper's buyout package, FishbowlDC has learned.

UPDATE: Heard's note to staffers...

Good morning. I finally made a decision; yes, Im taking the buyout. The money was just too tempting. So was the idea of a new adventure. (One of the first things I did during my vacation was renewing my passport!) Ill be here until the end of the year so Ill make the magical "rule of 80" and can also help with a transition for the next person fortunate enough to have this amazing job.