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* From an e-mail…
I am writing to draw to your attention a very important charity event taking place in my district this Saturday that I believe some of you may be interested in attending or contributing to in some way. Many of you will be familiar with Peoria Journal Star Reporter Chris Kaergard and his “Budget Beard.” The typically clean-shaven Chris began growing a beard when the state budget impasse began, in an effort to illustrate the length of time it had been at any given moment since Illinois had last operated under a comprehensive annual budget. As his beard grew, so too did the public’s awareness of just how dysfunctional our statehouse had become in the wake of this conflict. His experiment has even gained quite a bit of media attention throughout the entire state.
Chris has long been ready to rid himself of his now unwieldy and unsightly Budget Beard, and now that the General Assembly has passed a stop-gap measure to keep our state’s basic services operational until January, he is taking advantage of the opportunity to do so while also raising funds for select local charities that have been devastated by the absence of a state budget throughout the past year. One of these charities is Lutheran Social Services, a state-wide agency that was hit hard early on in the fiscal year.
I approached Chris about this concept a few months ago, and could not be more pleased to see that he is putting the plan into action. This event—which will take place at a local East Peoria barber shop—will allow legislators, community leaders, and members of the public to each take their own snip off the Budget Beard in exchange for a charitable donation in the amount of their choosing. This will carry on until the Budget Beard is finally gone and Chris is back to his old self.
If you cannot attend the event but are interested in donating, you may do so using the links below.
It is truly devastating for our state what has been allowed to take place throughout this past year, and I am extremely hopeful that this effort will provide some degree of comfort and relief to these agencies—though admittedly insufficient—as they continue their respective missions to serve some of our most vulnerable fellow citizens.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mike Unes
State Representative, 91st District
The invite is here. And here are the above-mentioned links…
* Center for Prevention of Abuse or: http://www.centerforpreventionofabuse.org/
* Common Place or: http://commonplacepeoria.org/
* Neighborhood House or: http://www.nhpeoria.org/
* Lutheran Social Services of Illinois or: http://www.lssi.org/
* But Rick Pearson at the Tribune is not so enthused about the whole beard thing…
Just an old school journalism thought. The reporter should never be the story. In the Millennial age, respect the profession.
— Rick Pearson (@rap30) July 8, 2016
Sorry but Illinois' budget and ideological impasse isn't a stunt. It's a real story and a reporter's goofiness bypasses those in need.
— Rick Pearson (@rap30) July 8, 2016
Maybe I'll just grow a longer beard. Good night and be safe for this week and see you on @SundaySpin.
— Rick Pearson (@rap30) July 8, 2016
I talked to a buddy of mine today who used to be a reporter about this. He said the Peoria newspaper would’ve done a much greater service by, perhaps, regularly reporting on a family dealing with the loss of a crucial service over the past year.
I dunno. To each his own, I suppose. And LSSI is a charity I’ve raised money for, so I hope they can benefit.
Your thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 1:46 pm
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i agree with Rick Pearson, but i was more put off by all the reporters taking selfies with him on the last day of the fiscal year. felt uncommonly insider-y.
too late to put this genie back in the bottle though, so i hope they raise a ton of money.
Comment by tazewell Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 1:55 pm
The above is a microcosm of some of what’s wrong with this country, or at least partly anyway. Yes, the budget crisis was and is bad and yes, people were and are being hurt in a very real way. But you know, get over yourselves. It was a fun thing to do. Humour. Fun. Amusement. I know, they are alien concepts in the times we live in and therefore we need them more than ever. Live and laugh, you up tight dingos. Life is much better than the alternative.
Comment by NATTY BOY Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:00 pm
Maybe Rick can talk to the Trib editorial board about how THEY could have been highlighting the woes of the average citizen affected by the cuts…rather than just reprinting the Gov’s and the “Superstars” talking points….Just sayin’
Comment by How Ironic Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:02 pm
And no watching the ball and flipping your bat when you hit a home run either!
Pearson comes off as cranky old dude. Sunday spin is only interesting when Amanda Vinicky (born this very day) takes over.
I don’t know Chris but I don’t think he entered this thinking it would go as long as it did.
Comment by LizPhairTax Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:04 pm
Why does it have to be either/or? Both approaches can engage the public. It’s unfortunate that more of the public won’t take the time and effort to follow in-depth stories and details but there is no harm in the “stunt” taking place too.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:05 pm
Aw, let ‘em have fun.
Who knew it would be a whole year.
Comment by Dave Dahl Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:06 pm
Rick is mostly right, though I share Rich’s ends-justify-the-means attitude on LSSI.
My beef is with Rauner-enabler Mike Unes using a reporter as he is, to claim moral high ground, and express phony outrage over something he is calling “truly devastating”.
If Mike Unes thinks the impasse was “truly devastating” why didn’t he ever publicly call on Rauner to stop holding hostages?
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:09 pm
Somebody get me rewrite for Rick Pearson!
While Rick adjusts the “PRESS” card in the brim of his fedora, let’s remember that this is 2016, people consume media in different ways and the media would be foolish not to acknowledge that.
A stark visual reminder of the intransigence and incompetence of our leadership can have an impact. That Rip Van Winkle beard summed up as nicely as a thousand charts just how long we have gone without a semblance of statesmanship in Illinois.
Chris isn’t making himself the story. He’s simply using one of the many tools at his disposable in the age of social media and viral videos to make sure the actual story (the unprecedented and unnecessary impasse) reached a few more eyes and ears that it otherwise might not have.
Comment by South of Sherman Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:10 pm
Much ado about nothing.
Comment by burbanite Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:12 pm
The problem with “regularly reporting on a family dealing with the loss of a crucial service over the past year” is that some people would focus on how that family should earn more money to pay for whatever service was cut and not rely on government assistance. The Budget Beard, while a gimmick (that I doubt anyone imagined would become a story itself) does provide a stark visual reminder of how long the impasse drug on.
Comment by Macomb resident Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:12 pm
I disagree that our society has any trouble entertaining ourselves and finding things to laugh at. We seem to have the “whistling in the dark” approach down to a fine art, which is good, because we need it. A little seriousness every now and then won’t kill us.
So I lean toward agreeing with Pearson (although, yeah, he might not want to sit in the Trib’s glass house and throw stones). It’s not that reporters have so much dignity that they can’t laugh at themselves; it’s more that, as Tazewell put it, it feels “insider-y” - especially when a state rep is sending around the email about donating to charity.
I do hope a lot of money is raised, but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth when a reporter and a politician get all chummy and comical about a crisis that shouldn’t have happened and still really isn’t over.
Comment by Commander Norton Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:13 pm
I respect Rick Pearson’s thoughts on this. To be honest, I’ve struggled with concerns about this too. It’s definitely not something we’re encouraged to do in Journalism 101.
Here’s what my thinking has been:
As a reporter who also writes a weekly opinion column — just as many of us with reporter hats also write columns or provide commentary in other media — I’ve always tried doggedly to preserve as much separation as possible between the roles. I’ve likewise tried with the beard role.
Just as with the column, I suspect my editors and I would’ve been among the first to hear complaints if the “beard” element of my work was distracting from covering stories. Instead, we heard widespread community buy-in — and increased conversation about what the budget impasse results were in our area.
The whole concept behind the “Budget Beard” has always been to help draw attention to the absence of a budget and the effects of that absence.
If the quirkiness of tweeting beard pictures occasionally helped focus more eyes for longer on the stories my co-workers and I did tell on the local impact of the stalemate these last 13 months, then I’m resting easy about having been a sidebar to those main stories.
Comment by Chris Kaergard Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:14 pm
Man yall need to lighten up.
Comment by S-Town Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:17 pm
Chris, great points, all. I respect you a great deal on this.
And with all due respect, it’s important to remember that Mike Unes, as an enabler of the impasse, should not get a free pass …
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:23 pm
I don’t know. In the grand scheme of things growing a beard seems more tame than say wishing for something like a hurricane. But I’m sure that Pearson was all over that issue as well.
Comment by pundent Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:28 pm
I’m sorry, was there some long series of in-depth articles penned by Rick Pearson that went to the heart of those suffering from the budget impasse?
This piece typifies the reporting by Pearson and, to be fair, most reporters covering the budget.
Basically, splice together dueling press releases/talking points from the opposing politicians, set them on a stage, throw in a little history as a backdrop, and narrate the same old story.
Its no wonder people feel like there is no progress in our politics: every day is a rerun of a sitcom you have already seen.
So yes. Pearson makes a fair point about not becoming part of the story, but dude, take the log out of your own eye first.
Next time you are gonna do a story on the education impasse, call the the Illinois PTA, or talk to some principals or school superintendents.
Better yet, email the executive board for the Illinois Association of Student Councils and find out how some bonafide student leaders feel.
Comment by Juvenal Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:28 pm
I wish Chris had stuck to his word and kept growing it til a budget was passed.
Going out like this in partnership with a state legislator is kinda lame.
Comment by Politix Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:30 pm
Excellent points by Kaergard. It wasn’t an either/or, and it arguably drew more attention to any stories regarding the human impact of the impasse…and Pearson can cover serious issues while still calling his own show “Spin” rather than “Serious Discussion”
Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:36 pm
Rick needs a vacation.
Comment by Saluki Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:37 pm
Should an “old school” journalist be tweeting??
Seriously, I see no problem with the beard, and I hope they raise some big-time cash.
Comment by Steve Rogers Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:39 pm
There’s a lot of bad news nowadays. A reporter’s beard qualifies to me as “not bad news.” I am happy to read about “not bad news,” at least for a bit.
Comment by Albany Park Patriot Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:40 pm
–Sorry but Illinois’ budget and ideological impasse isn’t a stunt. It’s a real story and a reporter’s goofiness bypasses those in need.–
Good on Pearson. 100% agree. They’re not all tronclodytes in the tower.
Real citizens — a million of them, not counting the thousands who lost their jobs - got tuned up, badly, during the execution of this willful, unprecedented, immoral, political sabotage.
The response should not be dorm-room, navel-gazing stunts, but serious journalism.
I’m glad some money is going to charity.
But the weasel words from Unes make my blood pressure go through the roof.
“… local charities that have been devastated by the absence of a state budget …”
Absence? How did that happen? Did the budget miss the school bus?
“It is truly devastating for our state what has been allowed to take place throughout this past year…”
Is it? Allowed? How did you vote on appropriations, Rep. Unes, for contracted services to social service providers?
Rep. Unes was a bedrock supporter of squeeze the beast for 18 months. The gall of the man to shed crocodile tears and pretend otherwise is disgusting.
Pay no attention to what politicians say, watch what they do.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:40 pm
Lighten up. A charity gets some money and no one gets hurt. And that Sunday spin is a good show but come on Pearson let it go. It’s not like all are local news is into hard investigative journalism and that includes WGN laugh fest
Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:41 pm
The future of human sevice funding = charitable donations for hair, nails, etc.
Comment by Dr X Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:42 pm
Half a budget, cut half the beard.
I have no problem with the beard. It was a way to garner attention to the problem.
Comment by Huh? Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:42 pm
We do have a problem with the objectivity of our news. Certain TV outlets are clearly identified as favoring the right or the left.
But as to this, Chris explained well on public radio that he tried to not inject any opinion. His beard was symbolic of the budget problem, but I thought that his reporting was fair. He never called it a Madigan or Rauner beard.
It was fun and did not affect objective reporting. The world could use some things like this to help us lighten up a bit. And if a charity benefits, all the better.
Comment by Politically Incorrect Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:46 pm
Given Oscar’s current “do”. I would suggest doing a similar event in Springfield with Oscar.
Comment by A guy Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 2:47 pm
I’m guessing Pearson would think Oscar pics are unnecessary and unprofessional too. Which makes me say to him “Pbbbbbbbttttt”
“If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane.” ― Robert Frost
Comment by HangingOn Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 3:03 pm
First let me state my conflict of interest. I’ve donated to LSSI.
While I understand where Pearson is coming from, there are far more important problems with today’s journalists than a reporter growing a beard to highlight an issue. As pointed out in today’s question post, a large number of journalists ask weak questions and fail to follow-up or challenge the canned statements of the interviewee.
Really annoyed by the paid shills to provide “balance” on the cable news shows.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 3:09 pm
–The above is a microcosm of some of what’s wrong with this country, or at least partly anyway. Yes, the budget crisis was and is bad and yes, people were and are being hurt in a very real way. But you know, get over yourselves. It was a fun thing to do. Humour. Fun. Amusement.–
Dig this goof.
What are you doing this weekend? Waxing the steps at the old folks home?
My old man used to say, “work is work and schnapps is schnapps.” Do your job, then have your fun.
Maybe you shouldn’t look for your “humor, fun, amusement” in arenas where “people were and are being hurt in a very real way.”
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 3:10 pm
What a silly prude. It’s not 1985 anymore, and I don’t see how a little fun harms anything. (Bonus points for Rick’s get-of-my-lawn tone about Millenials–that’ll help the youngins become more loyal to newspapers!)
Comment by 40-something reporter Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 3:12 pm
Wordslinger: I don’t understand how a reporter growing a very long beard impacts his ability to produce what you call “serious journalism” or not. Would you mind explaining that to me?
Comment by 40-something reporter Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 3:23 pm
Maybe Rick should focus on the real story more than the beard, then.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 3:25 pm
Two tweets after his sanctimonious lecture, the serious journalist Pearson was retweeting the important civic issue of a woman wanting to wear a pasta strainer in her drivers license photo.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 3:25 pm
I think Chris should have gotten a stopgap beard trim: get the mustache off the upper lip, trim the neckline, and grab some beard oil for the post-election circus.
Comment by anon Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 3:36 pm
Methinks journalists should stop worrying about what other people do with their beards and focus on their own jobs. Quit dancing around with IIL pols. Ask serious questions and don’t stop until you finally get real answers.
Comment by Politix Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 3:38 pm
Kind of going 60-40 in favor of Kaergard. Every year some reporter gets their head shaved for Saint Baldrick - is this any different? The only concern I have is the reporter is doing this in kahoots with a politician - in a time where “even the appearance of a conflict of interest” is used, this could be construed as one - even if LSSI is a worthy benefactor.
Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 3:41 pm
Calm down Pearson
Comment by Boone's is Back Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 3:42 pm
It doesn’t have to be either/or.
I understand Rick’s concerns, I just don’t believe Chris made himself the story. Everyone who covers politics in this state did material on the harms of the impasse on essential services. This was just a harmless sidebar.
I always appreciate a good discussion on ethics in journalism. Some news organizations in this state practically flaunt their lack of standards.
Comment by John Gregory (ex-IRN) Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 3:43 pm
My opinion is that you’re seeing Rick a bit overheated and frustrated over day after day after day of some preventable outcomes not being prevented.
It’s not as if anyone didn’t get “the story” on this. Or that some reporters beard overshadowed (pardon the pun) the story.
Rick is being overly critical and it’s not hard to figure out where it’s coming from. My advice to him would NOT be to “lighten up”. It would be to “let it go”, and not punk a fellow journalist. That’s as tacky as anything else. He knows better.
He’s frustrated. We all are. It’s making us too cranky for our own good.
Let it go. Good luck with the charity. Hope it’s successful.
Comment by A guy Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 4:21 pm
I agree with Pearson…
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 4:23 pm