Phil Alongi, the opera singing producer of NJTV News and NJ Spotlight, yesterday announced via Facebook his departure from the network.

“Yesterday [Friday] was a very bittersweet day for me,” Alongi wrote. “It was my last day at the helm of NJTV News and NJ Spotlight. It’s been 8+ years, some 2,100+ broadcasts, two name changes, four different studios, ten debates, and one media acquisition. I’ve grown to love each of my colleagues as family. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, and we’ve put out the most in-depth, quality journalism our state has to offer on every platform you can think of.

“In that short time, we turned our scrappy team of twelve into fifty strong,” he added. “I learned so much from my colleagues. Because of each of the people I’ve tagged, I leave this job a better journalist, a better producer, and a better man. I’m excited to share details about my next chapter, but today is all about New Jersey Public Media.”

Alongi stars tomorrow (Monday) as the Executive Producer/Showrunner of Live PD: Wanted.

Steve Adubato, host of State of Affairs, wrote, “Phil Alongi…simply The Best. You will be missed. Best to you my Friend.”

Amelia Durazzo-Cintron, who heads up the makeup division at NJTV News, wrote, “I can remember a time when I’d wake up for work in the morning and think ‘This is it? This is my life?’ I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t fulfilled. It was a terrible feeling. You [Alongi] changed all that for me. You gave me a shot and I will be forever greatful.”

For our part, InsiderNJ would like to thank Alongi for a job well done at NJTV News and NJ Spotlight. His big-hearted ways, sense of adventure for his work, and obvious care for other human beings in the stressful, professional rumble of the job, made a huge, behind-the-scenes, yes, but no less operatic impact on the world of political news coverage in this state.

And we deeply appreciate him and his work.

Best wishes always, Phil.