Editor of paper that persisted newsroom taking pictures says goodbye

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The editor of the Capital Gazette, which received a special Pulitzer Prize citation for its insurance and braveness within the face of a massacre in its newsroom, is leaving the Maryland newspaper.

Rick Hutzell, who worked on the Annapolis paper for more than three a long time, authored a farewell column that became posted on the paper's site Saturday morning.

Hutzell talked about he took a buyout that was provided by way of the newspaper's dad or mum company. The Capital Gazette became owned by Tribune Publishing until it turned into purchased closing month with the aid of Hedge fund Alden international Capital.

Hutzell was editor of the paper when 5 employees had been shot to death within the newsroom in 2018.

"The murder of my 5 chums, Rob Hiaasen, Gerald Fischman, Wendi Winters, John McNamara and Rebecca Smith, modified me," he wrote on Saturday. "I always enjoyed the job. however I became consumed with the notion that it was my intention to shop the paper. a man with a shotgun tried to kill us — to kill me and the newspaper I've poured my life into for 33 years. I wasn't going to let it die."

"Of course, it wasn't my responsibility on my own," he continued." "in conjunction with a bunch of very gifted journalists and different employees in Annapolis, Baltimore and throughout Tribune Publishing, we stored publishing."

The paper published on agenda and won the Pulitzer quotation.

the man behind the assault, Jarrod Ramos, had a long-operating grudge towards the newspaper. He has pleaded responsible but now not criminally accountable because of madness. A trial to check no matter if he's criminally liable is set to begin later this month.

Hutzell spoke of he's not bound what's subsequent. however he referred to the buyout represented an opportunity for something new.

"I got here to The Capital in October 1987, and straight away told Managing Editor Tom Marquardt I deliberate to stay for 2 years and then be a part of the associated Press and spot the realm," he wrote. "One love of my life, Chara, two kids, two residences, four canines, two convertibles and one Pulitzer Prize later, it's clear I had no concept what i used to be speaking about.

"I hope I might say it's all been grand, and that i'm headed off to retirement. nonetheless it hasn't, and that i'm no longer."