‘It’s been a gift’: Carolyn Long reflects on legendary career at KCTV5 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - When then cub-reporter Carolyn Long came to KCTV5 for a job interview she thought, “If only.” Little did she know not only her dream to work in Kansas City would come to life, but she’d live out that dream for nearly 30 years.

As Long geared up to experience her next adventure, retirement, she sat down with Lauren Magarino for a one-on-one interview to reflect on a career that she calls a gift.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Lauren Magarino: 28 years. How fast does it feel?

Carolyn Long: You have no idea. I when I walked in the door the first time and there was a long-time reporter here, Lana Joyce. And up on the board was “celebrating 20 years.” When I came in for my interview I thought, “Oh my gosh. Who stays at a television job that long?” And look at me now. It’s been a blink. It really has flown by.

Magarino: You announced your retirement a year ago. For the person who maybe missed that, or they’ve been a long-time viewer, and they’re going, “why is she retiring?” What is your why?

Long: My why is mainly that my husband has gotten a job in Saint Petersburg, Florida. I wasn’t ready to leave right away. So, he’s already there and we’ve just been commuting back and forth. It’s time to reunite our family and get back together. I’ve also kind of determined in a really odd way that I am a change junkie. I’m an adrenaline junkie. I think it’s just time to try new things.

Magarino: What do you about your first day here?

Long: I my first interview here like it was yesterday. It was a wild story. I had worked in radio news right out of college, and when we first got married, moved to Connecticut in radio news. But I always thought, you know, I really want to get into television news. I really think that’s my calling. But I really hadn’t done much of it at all.

So when I came here [Missouri], I worked for a small television station in Saint Joe. I worked there for about six months, and the general manager suggested that I sign his very first personal contract. It had all kinds of rules and regulations, one of which being I could never come and anchor in Kansas City. I said, “Well,wait. That’s where I would really like to go next. So, I don’t like that clause in this contract.” And he said, “Well, honey, you’re not good enough for Kansas City.”

It took me back. I thought, “Well gee is he right?” I grabbed whatever tapes I could grab off my desk, recent newscasts and stories I had done. I called every news director in Kansas City that day and I said, “Would you meet with me and tell me if this man is right?” Don North, the news director at KCTV5 said sure, I’ll give you five minutes.

I walking into that awning KCTV5 and I thought, “If only.” I walked into his office, he put my tape in, and he said, “Now tell me what this man said to you.” And I explained and he said, “You know what? I have a part-time job and it pays more than you’re going to make there. What do you say? And what do you say you tell him tomorrow because you are good enough for Kansas City.”

It changed everything. I get teared up thinking about it because he gave this young cub reporter a chance. I’m still in touch with him today.

The finale of that story was the best part. So, I took this contract back the next day, and I shook his [general manager’s] hand, and I said, “I want to thank you so much.”

He said, “Well, you’re welcome. It’s my first ever personal service contract to an anchor.”

I said, “No, I don’t think you understand why I’m thanking you. I’m thanking you because you told me I wasn’t good enough for Kansas City. I had to see if you were right. Apparently, you weren’t and this is my two weeks notice.” I mean, it was poetic justice.

Magarino: Another chapter for you was becoming a mother here. How do you reflect on that period of time?

Long: It’s so funny to move to a new city as two people and then and not know, how long are we going to stay here? In the television news business at the time and still today, moving around a lot to the next market is very common. It’s what you do. We soon realized we were not doing that. You know, we came here as, like, a little tree. The roots just started growing, and fast, here in Kansas City. And we knew right away we weren’t going anywhere.

Magarino: What tipped that off?

Long: I think the fact that we loved the feel of the city, the heart of this city, the people in this city, we fell in love with it. We fell in love with the schools, with our neighborhood, with the village that we created very quickly and with such love that I don’t know that we could have done that anywhere else. So, our daughter was born here in 1998 and she grew up here. This is home to her. She was, you know, born and raised a Kansas City girl. And we very much are a Kansas City family.

Magarino: What story made you feel closest to the Kansas City community?

Long: It’s always like my last story, it feels like. But I will say probably the most grounding day, the day that I felt most connected to everybody, was the day of the rally shooting. I’ll never forget that. Our city changed that day to a degree, and it made me really sad. But I felt the importance of local journalism that day and the need to do what we do. That’s just one of many heartbreaking stories. There’s been an equal number of magical, happy stories to cover, too.

Magarino: What do you view as your biggest accomplishment?

Long: I mean, of course, the fun side of me thinks of the star interviews that have come through. Getting to sit with Ellen DeGeneres on Ellen’s stage and interview her and interview just superstars along the way. That’s been a kick. I would probably think my biggest accomplishment is working every shift in the building. Literally every shift, every day, every time period, and getting to do interviews of all kinds. So yes, I get to meet the stars, but also on a daily basis, I get to tell the real stories of what’s really going on in your neighborhood, and that’s the best accomplishment of all. And being trusted to do so. That’s big.

Magarino: What do you look forward to most in your retirement?

Long: I’m going to do something in my retirement. I’m too young. I’m not done yet. I still got some kick in me to do something, something great, but probably not news related. Like I said, I’m an adrenaline junkie. I have my first trip planned and that is to Alaska. I’m doing some mountain climbing. I’m very excited for that first trip and that first moment of realizing I don’t have to be back at a given time. So that’ll be a kick.

Magarino: You’ve built a legacy here at this anchor desk. How would you define that legacy?

Long: I hope trustworthy. Valued in the community for news and beyond. A trusted source. I hope that’s what I leave you.

Magarino: Any advice for me?

Long: I will tell you a secret about this desk. This news desk, I think, has magical powers. I can have a full-on migraine, and I come around here, and I stand in my little spot, and I get ready to talk and that migraine goes away. It’s a magical moment here and it happens in every newscast. I hope that magic es along to you. I hope you feel it, too.

Magarino: I will take it. I will embrace this magical moment here. And it’s been magical to be able to work alongside you.

Long: What a gift.

Magarino: This is something that is not super typical. It was a very intentional decision for us to be able to spend time together, to co-anchor together. For me to literally sit across from her in our newsroom and be able to ask whatever question. I cannot thank you enough for how gracious, how kind and how open you’ve been about this whole experience and just making me feel welcome to KCTV5. I will leave it at that because then I will start choking up and losing it. So, I’ll have more to say another time but for now, just thank you.

Long: You’re welcome. May the next 30 years be just as magical for you. Best of luck to you. You deserve it.

For more stories celebrating Carolyn, click here.

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