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* The Illinois News Network’s publisher and general manager has penned a column entitled “Objectivity lost when the media omits the news.” I kid you not. He goes through a long meandering introduction about his world travels and then finally gets to the point…

I have watched with curiosity how media in Illinois has covered the recent stories of two state representatives who have been charged with driving under the influence, each within a short distance from the statehouse, on what was essentially a work night. Kam Buckner, a Democrat from Chicago, was arrested on March 29 a few blocks from the capitol. Steven Reick, a Republican from Woodstock, was arrested Thursday (May 2).

Each man was arrested early in the morning during session in Springfield. […]

INN published stories about Buckner on April 3 and April 5. INN published the video, which we received via a Freedom of Information Act request, on April 29. The video was aired by WGN-TV, CBS 2 Chicago, and NBC 5 Chicago within 24 hours of moving through our news wire.

All information is neutral. If you provide facts and adhere to the journalistic standards of objectivity, as a reporter you are providing the truth.

Buckner’s DUI wasn’t covered in any way by the Springfield Journal-Register, until it was packaged at the bottom of columnist/reporter Bernard Schoenberg’s news story on Reick’s arrest, which was published on Thursday (May 2) – an hour or more after Illinois News Network broke the story. The arrest occurred less than a mile from Springfield Journal-Register’s office. […]

Politico’s Illinois Playbook, a daily email newsletter roundup of Chicago, state and federal news with implications for Illinoisans, is written and aggregated by Shia Kapos. She included a link to a story about Reick’s DUI on Friday (May 3), but still hasn’t reported on Buckner’s DUI.

That is so rich. “They’re not reporting on my publication’s stories so they are biased! Biased, I say! Biased!”

This from the same news organization which used to be owned by the Illinois Policy Institute and is now the group’s office mate in Chicago. It regularly publishes columns written by Institute employees and its stories often overlap with the Institute’s own coverage.

No biases whatsoever based on story choice.

* From a recent INN story…

Amid a nationwide measles outbreak, the Illinois Department of Public Health is taking steps to increase vaccination rates to prevent measles cases here.

“The Illinois Department of Public Health is proactively working to increase vaccination rates and educate the public on the importance of vaccines to prevent the spread of measles,” said Jenny Winkler, director of quality, safety and health policy at the Illinois Health and Hospital Association.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 704 cases of measles in 22 states. Seven measles cases have been identified in Illinois, Winkler said.

Wait. Nothing about Rep. Darren Bailey’s (R-Xenia) bill to require doctors to provide misleading at best information about immunizations to parents?

Nothing about Bailey’s outrageously false Facebook posts regarding the content of measles vaccinations and the alleged harm those vaccinations can cause?

So, why aren’t they reporting on Bailey?! Biased, I say! Biased! /s

…Adding… A good point in comments…

Last week when news hit about the threatening letter concerning public pensions sent to legislators, IRN ran a story, multiple times, regarding a public school janitor suing over union dues.

Not one line regarding the threat.

Yep. Bias much?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 6, 19 @ 10:07 am

Comments

Grifters gonna grift.

Comment by Moe Berg Monday, May 6, 19 @ 10:11 am
Chris Krug needs a good editor. Paragraph after paragraph about himself before finally get to the “point.”
Talk about omitting the news.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, May 6, 19 @ 10:13 am
Another victim heard from. The search for grievances is never-ending in some circles. Must pay well, because it ain’t a good look for a grown man.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 6, 19 @ 10:14 am
Sure the hypocrisy is annoying, but I don’t think that lets the other media outlets off the hook, and their point still stands right?

Comment by Louis Monday, May 6, 19 @ 10:16 am
= Kam Buckner, a Democrat from Chicago, was arrested on March 29 a few blocks from the capitol. Steven Reick, a Republican from Woodstock, was arrested Thursday (May 2). =

INN conveniently omits that March 29 was a Friday. Also, the General Assembly was not in session that day (IIRC, the arrest of Rep. Buckner was after midnight). It was in session the day of Rep. Reick’s arrest.

Comment by cover Monday, May 6, 19 @ 10:30 am
–Sure the hypocrisy is annoying, but I don’t think that lets the other media outlets off the hook, and their point still stands right?–

Did he make a point? What is it? Did you have some trouble learning about either arrest from the media?

FWIW, a google search on “Ill. Rep. Reick arrested” generates 33,800 hits. A search for Ill. Rep. Buckner arrested” yields 125,000 hits.

Don’t think anyone’s hiding the news on either.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 6, 19 @ 10:32 am
INN is still owned by the Illinois Policy Institute, per tax filings: Although IPI “transferred” ownership of INN to the Franklin Center, IPI is the “direct controlling entity” of Franklin Center according to its IRS disclosures.

In other words, Franklin Center is just IPI by another name. The same arrangement applies to the Liberty Justice Center.

Also, the same IRS records list INN general manager Chris Krug as an employee of IPI (paid $190,000 a year in 2017, as journalists making 1/3 or less than that might like to know).

Comment by Reality Check Monday, May 6, 19 @ 10:42 am
Louis,
Last week when news hit about the threatening letter concerning public pensions sent to legislators, IRN ran a story, multiple times, regarding a public school janitor suing over union dues.
Not one line regarding the threat.
They don’t have a point, they are the Tass arm of the IPI.

Comment by efudd Monday, May 6, 19 @ 10:47 am
INN is just following the Fox News/Trump/Rauner whining playbook of “I’m the victim,” no matter the subject. It’s the legitimate media’s obligation to continue to point out that hypocrisy.

Comment by Steve Rogers Monday, May 6, 19 @ 11:10 am
this is so LOL. Bye INN

Comment by Shytown Monday, May 6, 19 @ 11:26 am
@Anonymous - Get a name.

Comment by illini Monday, May 6, 19 @ 12:53 pm
–Your attempt to discredit this valid point is cute.–

What is the “valid point?”

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 6, 19 @ 12:56 pm
To the Post,

The bias that exists with INN is rooted in inherit conflicts that begin and end with IPI or the genesis of INN and IPI.

What’s troubling?

What’s troubling is trying to tear down credibility of news to elevate yourself above your own obvious biases.

That’s quite troubling.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 6, 19 @ 4:11 pm