News anchor retiring scene
After nearly three decades of service on the airwaves in Kansas City, esteemed television news anchor Carolyn Long announced her retirement effective next year. Her announcement came on the 18th of June, 2024, sharing the news first with her colleagues at KCTV5, followed by a message addressed to the people of Kansas City.
“As I approach the next chapter in my life, it is with a bittersweet heart that I announce my retirement from the anchor desk,” Long stated. “This is not a decision I make lightly, but it is one I come to with immense gratitude and a deep sense of fulfillment.“
Long commenced her journey with KCTV5 as a general assignment reporter in 1996. Few months down the line, she moved to anchoring and since then she has enjoyed one of the longest, most successful careers in Kansas City’s broadcast television history.
Throughout her career, Long has reported and covered countless stories that have shaped Kansas City for the past quarter-century. Her calm, reassuring presence during moments of tragedy has been a beacon for the community, while her zealous promotion of the city’s successes stands as a testament to her pride in her adopted home.
Carolyn Long played a crucial role during many major news events that unfolded in and around the city over more than 25 years. She was a sympathetic voice during incomprehensible natural disasters in Greenburg and Linwood, Kansas, and Joplin, Missouri. Additionally, she was on air for an intense five-hour stretch following the mass shooting at the Chiefs Championship Rally outside Union Station.
From covering the inauguration of both the Sprint Center and the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, to celebrating the Royals World Series title in 2015 and the three Chiefs championships in 2020, 2023, and 2024, Long’s work is woven into the fabric of the city’s history.
“While I will miss the daily adrenaline rush of breaking news, I am confident that the legacy of our work will endure,” Long stated. “The stories we have told, the lives we have touched, and the values we have upheld will continue to resonate long after I am gone.“
Long’s legacy extends beyond the KCTV5 anchor desk. Hailing originally from Akron, Ohio, Long, a Kent State University graduate, has been a consistent supporter of many community organizations across Kansas City such as Wayside Waifs, War Horses for Veterans, and Bra Couture KC.
KCTV5 VP/GM, Curtis Miles expressed his admiration:”She’s incredibly talented, genuine, and cares deeply for this community. We will always be grateful for her time with us and for the difference she has made every day.“
Long’s official retirement will not take place until May, 2025, thus giving her colleagues and fans ample time to bid their farewells. Her remarkable career at KCTV5 will continue over the next year.
Concluding his warm farewell, KCTV5 news director Josh Morgan stated, “There will never be another Carolyn Long. For all of us who have worked alongside her, we are eternally grateful for that opportunity, and we can’t wait to spend the next year celebrating everything she has meant to this station and to the people of Kansas City.“
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