Mr. Graham, who was said to be concerned not only with the magazine’s legacy but the legacy of his family’s half-century of stewardship of the magazine, wanted the sale to cause as few disruptions as possible. The news release said that Mr. Harman intended to “keep a majority of Newsweek’s very talented staff.”

Not, however, Jon Meacham, who announced that he would leave as editor once the sale was complete. No successor was named. Mr. Meacham appeared with Mr. Harman in the Newsweek offices on Monday but said nothing as Mr. Harman charmed the assembled staff, according to a person who was there.

“I am sure Mr. Harman will be a good steward of the magazine and of its values,” Mr. Meacham said in an e-mail. “As I have told him, I will be rooting for him and for his team.” He added, “My own future will work itself out in due course.”

The financial details of the sale were not known, though one person with knowledge of Mr. Harman’s bid said last week that Mr. Harman had offered to pay $1 in exchange for absorbing Newsweek’s financial liabilities. A second person briefed on the sale said that very little cash would change hands, and that that Mr. Harman had agreed to assume more than $50 million in liabilities from The Post. As part of the deal, the Post Company will keep cash that Newsweek subscribers have already paid, and Mr. Harman will honor subscriptions, this person added.

The Post Company said Monday that it expected its loss or gain from the sale to be immaterial.

Newsweek has struggled through the recession more than most weekly news magazines. As recently as 2007 it was earning $30 million a year  the amount it lost last year.