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, Radar has learned. As we predicted he would five weeks ago, Downie announced yesterday that he would leave the newsroom in September to become a vice president of the Washington Post Co.

Newsweek editor Jon Meacham was one of several people interviewed about the job by the Post's new publisher, Katharine Weymouth, but Meacham confirmed to Radar today that he had taken himself out of the running several weeks ago.

Bennett has been serving both as managing editor and the chairman of the committee in charge of the recent round of buyouts at the Post. He has also been responsible for reorganizing the news room after the loss of a hundred staffers to early retirement.

Post reporters and editors say they have been extremely impressed with Bennett's hard work and cheerful disposition during an exceptionally difficult process. Even some of those who previously questioned whether he was the best candidate to succeed Downie are now backing him enthusiastically.

However, the only vote that really matters here is that of Ms. Weymouth, the new publisher who is also extremely popular at the Post. Her final decision is expected to be announced very soon.

Washington Post media writer Howard Kurtz wrote this morning that New York Times deputy managing editor Jonathan Landman was also in the running to succeed Downie, but Post employees told Radar that the field had narrowed to Bennett and Brauchli.