Good luck, Tina!
Tuesday, Jul 21, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’m proud to call Tina a friend and a colleague, and I’m going to miss her something fierce. Her departure leaves a giant hole in this state and at that newspaper, but it’s what she wants and there’s no doubt this is a great opportunity for both her and her new employer. Our loss is their gain. Go get ‘em!…
* Feder…
“Every so often, we have to say goodbye to colleagues whom we trust and treasure — and acknowledge they are making career moves that are perfect fits for them,” Sun-Times executive editor Chris Fusco told staff. “She’s been a quick study at every turn, soaking up the knowledge of her bosses and colleagues and becoming a mentor to our next generation of great journalists.”
Before joining the Sun-Times as a preps sports writer in 2007, Sfondeles was a news writer at all-news WBBM 780-AM and a production assistant for “The Steve Dahl Show.” She’s a graduate of Lemont High School and holds degrees from Loyola University and Columbia College.
She also owes her legion of fans a coffee table book about men watching construction. Man, I’m going to miss her. Just a good egg all around.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 9:19 am:
Oh no.
- Universal DH - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 9:22 am:
She’ll be missed. Top shelf person and writer. This is DC payback for taking Mike Bost off our hands.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 9:22 am:
Congratulations and best wishes to Tina.
– MrJM
- JoanP - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 9:25 am:
Happy for Tina, sorry for us. But I completely understand the importance of an in-unit washer & dryer, and air conditioning. And that is NOT snark.
I wish her all the best.
- The Captain - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 9:26 am:
Huge loss. She was a throwback who didn’t just report the news, she had sources. During all the internal turmoil of the Rauner administration she wrote the insider account. It’s a skill that will serve her well covering the Biden campaign (and maybe a Biden administration).
Congrats to the winners but today I’m feeling our loss.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 9:26 am:
In total equilibrium;
Illinois, her friends an colleagues, such a horrible loss to having such a talented colleague, great friend, and a true talent as a watchdog reporting on Illinois.
The country, her new employer, such an incredible gain, as they get what Illinois, friends, colleagues, folks like me who follow from afar… she is restaurant-quality, inside and out, personally and professionally.
My sincere best wishes, I’ve enjoyed “men watching construction”, truly a wonderful treat that made my day and made me laugh along with everyone.
Good luck, enjoy the adventure, I’ll be reading and following your great work.
OW
- Ok - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 9:28 am:
Now who is going to ask Pritzker questions at his press conferences?
I would say journos, Pritzker, and even Rauner owe Tina an enormous thank you for being the daily dogged reporter that covered state government happenings when all the newsrooms thinned out and disappeared.
While a book about Rauner would have been interesting, nobody would read it. A book about Pritzker might suffer the same fate.
But that book about men watching construction, sign me up for a pre-order today.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 9:29 am:
My initial “Oh no” response is explained here: https://capitolfax.com/2019/12/10/caption-contest-453/
– MrJM
- southsider - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 9:34 am:
Tina is the real deal. She’s incredibly fair and honest, and hold no punches when she needs to. She will be missed deeply.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 9:37 am:
First Jenn White and now this.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 9:38 am:
Hopefully she enjoys coffee or another caffeinated beverage, she’ll probably need it covering Biden. But if she works on the Trump campaign that could be boring too with the same schtick, the same grievances and boasting, over and over. Good luck to her and hope this is more rewarding.
- Father Ted - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 9:53 am:
I worked with her a lot when she was newer at the Sun-Times and she was phenomenal to work with. Very pleasant and professional, even when working on difficult stories. Can’t say the same for all the city’s reporters but she was a gem. Best of luck, Tina!
- Trapped in the ‘burbs - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 10:06 am:
It’s a shame that a talented reporter needs a promotion from an out of state employer to get A/C and a washer and dryer.
Probably explains the current state of journalism in Chicago.
- Proud Sucker - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 10:31 am:
I must concur that our loss is DC’s gain. And, with the DelMarVa humidity, AC is a necessity. Good luck Tina, though you probably don’t need my platitudes as you are the type of person who makes their own luck.
- Rutro - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 10:33 am:
Surprised it took so long, she’ll soon be at wapo or nyt (if she chooses) and they’d be lucky to get her.
- Kevin Fanning - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 10:53 am:
Congrats Tina! You will be missed here in Illinois.
- Abdon - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 12:03 pm:
Go get ‘em, Tina. Teach that D.C. Press Corps how to ask tough questions.
- Rich Hill - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 12:12 pm:
She’s earned it and will be quite capable of seeing through the Beltway ridiculousness to come.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 1:23 pm:
Great person. Couldn’t be happier for her. Or sad for us.
- Blue Beard - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 1:46 pm:
Good reporter. Wish her well. Glad she is finally getting in unit washer and dryer too. Some of these hard-working reporters are woefully underpaid.
- Nearly Normal - Tuesday, Jul 21, 20 @ 2:22 pm:
Congratulations and best wishes to Tina. She will be missed.