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Production company exec “refutes” Illinois Policy Institute claim

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Illinois

An official of the Illinois Policy Institute has said that a film crew doing interviews for a “documentary” about House Speaker Michael Madigan was “very forthcoming about … our involvement.”

That statement was in response to Rich Miller, publisher of the Capitol Fax newsletter and blog, saying last week that he was “duped” into taking part in a policy institute project without notice that the group was involved.

But the head of production and development for Austin, Texas-based Emergent Order, which is doing the project for the policy institute, told me this week that the person who interviewed Miller could not have told him of the policy institute’s involvement because that contractor was not told who was providing the funding. […]

“I was not at the interview, but I sent out a producer who was one of our contractors,” said Teryn Fogel, the Emergent Order production head. “The contractor didn’t know who was funding it except that they were hired through me. … A lot of times subcontractors don’t know who’s doing financing … because we do not want to sway anybody’s interviews in any direction.” … which backs up Miller’s story and refutes the statement by [Diana Rickert, the policy institute’s vice president of communications] that Miller was told of the group’s involvement.

Again, I had no problems at all with the questions asked or my responses. I actually had fun with the producer and director during and after the interview. My complaint is I was not told in advance that the Illinois Policy Institute was backing the project.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 9:37 am

Comments

IPI …

Sin of Omission

That IPI, “Honesty and truth… with buffers”

“Yeah, with the subcontractors… the IPI had a lotta buffers…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 9:40 am
IPI caught in a fabrication? I’m shocked, I tell you shocked!/s

Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 9:46 am
You also weren’t told that Emergent Order was building Killer Star Base using contractors. Yet here we are. Privatization doesn’t work well does it? We can complain about state workers all we want but the institutional knowledge they hold is invaluable. Like let’s not have an exhaust port that can lead right to the main reactor. Any stormtrooper could have told you how that worked out. Contractors? They don’t care. Just pay me.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 9:47 am
Richard, you must’ve forgotten. Diana said you were told and IPI is always right. s/

Comment by Sir Reel Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 9:52 am
That Rickert ain’t so good at the grift.

If you’re not sure of the play, best to remain silent.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 9:56 am
IPI has filed a FOIA with Springfield school district about workers’ compensation. I’m looking forward to their fair and balanced piece on that subject.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 9:56 am
If I’m reading this correctly, Emergent Order “honestly forgot” to tell the subcontractor of IPI’s involvement. Got it!

Comment by Jocko Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:01 am
Should we be expecting a public apology from Diana Rickert?

I am.

“DIANA RICKERT, the policy institute’s vice president of communications, told Politico’s Illinois Playbook that “Rich’s comments are strange. The film crew is top notch, and was very forthcoming about the scope of the documentary and our involvement when asked who was funding the project.”

She blazed that line out fast.

(Does she have any involvement with IL Policy Institutes’ radio news operation, IRN? If her standard of integrity is indicative of the culture at IRN, and other IPI enterprises, …. dear goodness…..smh.)

Any means for any ends; that is a scary value system.

Comment by cdog Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:02 am
No IL production companies to hire?

Comment by Liberty Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:04 am
“No IL production companies to hire?”

Madigan controls those.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:11 am
So who told Kass? And if he was given a heads up as to who was funding it, what told him it would be a good idea to participate?

Comment by steward Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:23 am
I feel all will be figured out when the INN delves deep into this in an unbiased, middle of the road way.

Then Dan Proft will take this in-depth, unbiased investigation and put the report in Proft’s unbiased, middle of the road papers…

… along side a film review that may be glowing, I don’t know, maybe have Kristen McQueary write something something in her space about the egregious persecution of IPI?

Sure, I’m spitballing, but…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:27 am
Much ado about nothing? Seriously, are a grand total of 150 people going to actually see this film in its entirety at an IPI event?

Unless it is broadcast on cable and television, I doubt that the film will have much of an impact beyond the trailer being posted on line.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:30 am
=== Seriously, are a grand total of 150 people going to actually see this film in its entirety===

A million people have already watched the trailer on Facebook.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:33 am
The trailer is important — it is being watched. My comment was addressed to the entire film. I doubt that it will find a wide audience.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:41 am
===A million people have already watched the trailer on Facebook.===

I’d send you chocolate strawberries, flowers and a lil something to take the chill out of the air. And a quick thank you.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:51 am
Didn’t IPI also buy capitalfax.com? I’m sure they tell visitors who really funds the site that takes them to.

Oh, wait, they don’t tell anyone who funds them.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:52 am
==Didn’t IPI also buy capitalfax.com?==

That would be a heck of a play, (unless Rich already owns it to protect his actual site.)

Comment by walker Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:58 am
“Unless it is broadcast on cable and television, I doubt that the film will have much of an impact beyond the trailer being posted on line.”

IPI & Rauner will find a way to use the documentary against Madigan. That has to be the only reason IPI paid to have the documentary made.

Comment by Mama Retired Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 11:01 am
–A million people have already watched the trailer on Facebook–

I wonder how many click farmers were hired to produce those million views.

Comment by My New Handle Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 11:06 am
Is it just me or are there more clearly disprovable lies floating around this election than in the past?

I’m not talking about spin or emphasizing part of the story to look good. I am talking flat out lies.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 11:13 am
“I wonder how many clock farmers were hired to produce those million views.”

The Illinois Policy Institute and the viewers they control…

Comment by Jack Kemp Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 11:18 am
===I’d send you chocolate strawberries, flowers and a lil something to take the chill out of the air. And a quick thank you.===

What an odd comment.

You feel the people that duped Rich should now send things to them because Rich is touting the lack of transparency? “Thanks Rich for exposing our lack of honesty”?

What an odd, odd, comment.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 11:21 am
Just wait for the producers to submit their paperwork to obtain their 30% Illinois Film Tax Credit. I’m sure that will make everything crystal clear. /s

Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 11:24 am
words of wisdom..
Don’t write anything you can phone. Don’t phone anything you can talk. Don’t talk anything you can whisper. Don’t whisper anything you can smile. Don’t smile anything you can nod. Don’t nod anything you can wink.

Comment by Texas Red Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 11:27 am
The whole charade just further cheapens the reputation of the IPI. They are right up there with the National Inquirer. You reap what you sow.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 11:34 am
==You feel the people that duped Rich should now send things to them because Rich is touting the lack of transparency? “Thanks Rich for exposing our lack of honesty”?==

I’m sorry Willy. You must have missed the part of a million views on the Trailers. That’s what I would thank and acknowledge him for.

He’s told the world he was duped. He’s also told the world that the experience was good with the production folks and he’s comfortable with his answers.

Everything’s out in the open. No strawberries, flowers or hooch for you.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 11:34 am
===That’s what I would thank and acknowledge him for.===

Nah, I didn’t miss anything.

Anyone who duped me then sent flowers, candies, whatever, I’d think that was really odd.

Thinking that’s a “good thing” is a lack of character thingy I guess.

You must be assuming ALL million views/viewers knew Rich was duped.

Again, very odd comment you had. Speaks more about you I guess.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 11:53 am
Yeah Willy. That’s what this says. And you’re the one using the term “odd”. Wowser.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 11:55 am
Curious that IPI didn’t think they had to lie to Kass to get him to participate. I guess they knew who they were dealing with.

Kass had no problem violating basic journalistic ethics. He only copped to “bad judgement” months after the fact when Rich exposed the grift.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 12:53 pm
Remember in 2004 when Michael Moore put out Fahrenheit 9/11 the summer before the election and millions of people went to go see it? Remember how it changed the outcome of the election and John Kerry was president?

Predicted impact this film has on the upcoming GA elections: ZERO POINT ZERO

Comment by A Parent Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 3:52 pm
=== Wordslinger: … Kass had no problem violating basic journalistic ethics.===

I am shocked - SHOCKED, I tell you, to find that there is gambling going on in here…

Comment by Mr. Smith Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 4:19 pm
IPI must have paid in advance.

Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 23, 16 @ 9:50 am