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Brauchli, Bennett Are Finalists to Replace WaPo's Downie (Radar)
Washington Post managing editor Phil Bennett and former Wall Street Journal managing editor Marcus Brauchli are the finalists to succeed Leonard Downie as executive editor of the Washington Post. Newsweek editor Jon Meacham was one of several people interviewed but he confirmed that he had taken himself out of the running several weeks ago. Marketwatch: Post could trump NYT if it can lure editor Jonathan Landman away, writes Jon Friedman. E&P: Washington Post staffers praise Downie's style and judgment.

Al-Hurra Paid Washington Journalists (ProPublica)
Although it is common for television networks to pay journalists who appear on their programs, many reporters decline to accept money from government-funded organizations. Still, a number of veteran Washington reporters earned hundreds of dollars for appearing on Al-Hurra and some said they saw no conflict of interest in accepting government funds.

Service From Google Gives Crucial Data to Ad Buyers (NYT)
In announcing a new service for media buyers on Tuesday, Google said that its Ad Planner was meant to make life easier for the people whose job it is to identify Web sites where their clients' messages will have the most impact. But in the advertising world, the new service — which will be free — was seen as a fairly big missile aimed at Nielsen Online and comScore. NYP: comScore's stock plunged 23 percent yesterday — the biggest one-day drop since the company went public last June — on fear that Google would steal market share.

Imus Says He Was Making a 'Sarcastic Point' (AP via USAT)
Don Imus, responding to criticism about racial remarks on his radio program, said on the air Tuesday he was trying to "make a sarcastic point" about unfair treatment of blacks in the criminal justice system but had been misunderstood. Imus resurrected his radio career six months ago with a pledge to mend the wounds caused by a racist and sexist comment he made about a women's basketball team.

In Russert Wake, NBC News Seeks New D.C. Chief (NYO)
While Tim Russert's Sunday morning television appearances are what most Americans will miss most about the late Washington bureau chief of NBC, it was his stewardship of the Washington bureau that was the great organizational achievement of his tenure. That position remains vacant. Tom Brokaw will not be assuming that title, and NBC executives will continue to look for someone to fill the role.

MTV Rocks the Vote, Takes Political Ads (TV Week)
Politicians can finally get their MTV. The cable channel, which has declined political advertising since its inception in 1981, is reversing course. The channel, part of Viacom's MTV Networks unit, says it will now take political ads, though only from political candidates and party political committees — not the third parties that often lob the biggest bombs.

Governator First Guest on Brokaw-Led MTP (TVNewser)
The first guest on the Tom Brokaw-moderated Meet the Press will be California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the program will be pre-recorded Saturday night from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Other western governors will be guests on the program as well — Democrats Dave Freudenthal (of Wyoming) and Bill Ritter, Jr. (of Colorado).

Facebook Passes MySpace in Popularity With Global Boost (WaPo via LAT)
Facebook may have started to win the global popularity contest over rival social network site MySpace. Last month, Facebook had 123.9 million unique visitors and 50.6 billion page views worldwide, according to comScore. MySpace, meanwhile, had 114.6 million unique visitors and 45.4 billion page views. This is the first time Facebook has edged past MySpace in those measures.

NYP Slams Olbermann Over... Ketchup? (P6)
Continuing its increasingly childish feud with MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, the gossip column Page Six suggests the Countdown host was apoplectic over not being able to get a first-class ticket to Tim Russert's memorial service, as well as a lack of ketchup once there. Olbermann's rep responds: "Since whatever you're going to print is an outright lie, you can go ahead and write whatever you want."

Village Voice Talking Contract (NYP)
Village Voice staff and the Phoenix-based outfit that bought the weekly two years ago are sitting down tomorrow to hash out their first collective-bargaining agreement since the takeover. Owner New Times inherited the three-year pact when it acquired Village Voice Media, and though the current agreement doesn't expire until June 30, the battle lines have already been drawn.

In Overhaul, Disney.com Seeks a Path to More Fun (NYT)
The Walt Disney Company, concerned that its main Web site is not entertaining enough, is moving once again to overhaul Disney.com. It will be the second recent makeover for the company's marquee site, which is still the top Internet destination for children's entertainment but faces increasing competition from players like Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and WebKinz.

Major Layoffs at Boston Herald (BoGlo)
The Boston Herald plans to lay off 130 to 160 employees this summer and outsource its printing to presses in Chicopee and Norwood. Herald president and publisher Patrick J. Purcell announced the decision after meeting yesterday with union leaders.

Broadband Video Evolves (B&C)
If 2007 was a breakthrough year for broadband video, 2008 is shaping up to be the swift evolution that follows the revolution. Programmers are fine-tuning their broadband game, introducing more user-friendly video players and experimenting with new ad formats such as graphic overlays and the "skins" format, which surrounds the video player with branding.

The Peculiar World of Ghostwritten Journalism (Guardian)
Mark Hooper: The history of journalism is scattered with cases of plagiarism, but now it seems you can't even rely on hacks to create their own storms in teacups without needing someone else to do it for them. Ramiro Burr, a music writer for the San Antonio Express-News, has left his position after it transpired he'd been hiring another journalist, Douglas Shannon, to ghostwrite some of his columns since 2001.

Revolving Door Newsletter: Downie Steps Down at WaPo (mediabistro.com)
After rampant speculation and intense coverage, the Washington Post's 17-year editor Len Downie announced he would step down from the role on September 8th, at the behest of newish publisher Katharine Weymouth (a member of the latest generation of Grahams to run the paper).