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Vinicky and Riopell are both moving up

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Illinois

Amanda Vinicky, who’s been a Springfield-based contributor to WTTW-Channel 11’s “Chicago Tonight” since 2015, will move up to full-time correspondent for the Window to the World Communications’ flagship news program, starting in January. She’ll continue to cover state government and the Illinois General Assembly and serve as a general assignment reporter for the show and its website.

“Amanda’s stellar reporting and her experience covering the statehouse has helped our audiences make sense of the political impasse in Springfield and the enormous challenges facing the state,” executive producer Mary Field said in a statement. “We are delighted to welcome her to our team on a full-time basis.”

Vinicky, a graduate of the University of Illinois, has covered politics and government for the Illinois Public Radio network since 2006.

Bad news for Public Radio, great news for Amanda and WTTW. She has worked hard to position herself for that new job, constantly commuting back and forth between Springfield and Chicago, and I couldn’t be happier for her. She loves Illinois politics, returning here after a brief stint in Iowa. We’ve been the better for it.

* Bernie…

Mike Riopell, who has been the Arlington Heights-based Daily Herald’s Springfield presence for six years, begins this week as an editor on the politics team of the Chicago Tribune. Riopell earlier spent four years as a statehouse reporter for Lee Enterprises.

Riopell recently has also been a group editor of several Southern Illinois papers purchased by Paddock publications, owners of the Daily Herald. […]

Riopell and Vinicky were both statehouse interns in 2005 through the Public Affairs Reporting master’s degree program at the University of Illinois Springfield. Good luck to both of them.

Covering all those Daily Herald suburbs from Springfield is one of the toughest jobs at the Statehouse news room. Riopell did it well and the Tribune is lucky to have him.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 21, 16 @ 8:25 am

Comments

Congrats to both of them. They work hard and they’re good. Very good.

Comment by A guy Monday, Nov 21, 16 @ 8:57 am
I’m a ridiculously huge fan of both, although they don’t know it. I’m thrilled that both Amanda and Mike are moving on to different challenges, the focus and their skills will continue to serve those who look to them, like me with a far greater footprint, reach, and spectrum, and I can’t be more thrilled for them.

Congratulations.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 21, 16 @ 10:34 am
Good luck to them both.

Any word though on whether their positions are being filled by their previous outlets or just getting eliminated?

I don’t think it’s a coincidence we have got worse state govt. outcomes at the same time the statehouse press corps has been thinned out.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Nov 21, 16 @ 11:00 am
We are surely going to miss Amanda in Springfield. Let us hope that she visits often.

Comment by Keyser Soze Monday, Nov 21, 16 @ 12:15 pm
Real thorough, prepared, professional reporters. Best wishes to both of them.

Comment by walker Monday, Nov 21, 16 @ 1:19 pm
Two good people, doing very good work, and seeing good recognition of it. Congratulations to Amanda and Mike!

Comment by Linus Monday, Nov 21, 16 @ 1:39 pm
Now, can we get WTTW back on Comcast in Springfield? It vanished with the switch to the X1 platform. If AA is just dense and it’s still there, someone please tell me.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Nov 21, 16 @ 1:54 pm
Is Chicago Tonight adding a correspondent or is one leaving?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 21, 16 @ 3:07 pm
Rich Hardwork gets rewarded…moven on up. The American way.

Comment by scott aster Monday, Nov 21, 16 @ 3:19 pm
Amanda is hands down the hardest working player in the game. Congrats. Well earned.

Comment by Signal and Noise Tuesday, Nov 22, 16 @ 1:44 pm