As Tribune offers buyouts, veteran reporter Ray Long announces retirement

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."

Zoom out: Long's retirement comes as several other prominent Chicago journalists have left their jobs, including Sun-Times columnists Michael Sneed, Rick Telander and Richard Roeper.

What's next: Tribune newsroom employees have until Monday to apply for the buyout.