As Tribune offers buyouts, veteran reporter Ray Long announces retirement
The latest: Long, 67, announced his departure on Monday, amid the company's request for newsroom employees to consider buyouts.
"I took advantage of the buyout because I was already thinking of leaving," Long tells Axios. "It was perfect timing for me."
The big picture: Long started at the paper in 1998, serving as the Springfield correspondent, breaking big stories on state government. He moved to the Tribune's investigative watchdog team in 2015.
Before the long stint at the Chicago Tribune, Long worked for the Associated Press, the Sun-Times and the Peoria Journal-Star, totalling up over 40 years covering Illinois politics.
He's won several awards for his work, including being a Pulitzer Prize finalist twice.
In 2022, he wrote a book about now-convicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan called " The House that Madigan Built."
What they're saying: " He's made the city and state better through his work," Trib editor John Chase wrote in a staff email obtained by Axios.
"He always led with passion and commitment, never allowing himself or others to take the easy way to get the story."
Zoom in: Long sent an email to co-workers, saying in part, "Millions of people need you to succeed. Your responsibility grows each day. Drive the beat. Don't let the beat drive you."
"Enjoy the journey. I did."
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