He began his career with the Tribune in 1974 and has been an economics correspondent, Sunday columnist and financial editor there.
Mr. Neikirk has won numerous journalism awards, including a Gerald Loeb, two John Hancock awards, two University of Missouri business writing awards and the Champion Media Award.
He also wrote two books, "The Work Revolution" and "Volcker, Portrait of the Money Man."
Mr. Neikirk recently noted the difference between covering economics in the '70s as opposed to today.
"You had the currency system that just imploded, you also had the energy crisis," he says. "It was a time that economics and financial news was of more interest to the man on the street."
But today, he says, the average person is more concerned with his or her 401(k). "Back then, there was a sense that the whole system was falling apart and inflation was going to do us all in. That made it interesting to cover," Mr. Neikirk said.