American television journalist and host Megyn Kelly is well-known for her work at Fox News Channel and later as a co-host of "CBS This Morning." She has talked extensively about her experiences covering politics, especially during Donald Trump's presidency, in her memoirs and interviews. The interactions between journalists and political leaders like Trump are a major theme in her story.
In her writings, Kelly details the various strategies used by politicians, particularly those holding prominent positions like president, to sway media coverage. She discusses instances in which powerful people give journalists presents or other advantages in the hopes that these actions will influence how their stories are covered. It's clear from the instance she cites involving Trump that he tried to win over reporters and win their favor by offering them material benefits like hotel stays or special access to private vehicles.
Consider a gardener attempting to encourage a flower to grow in a specific direction by putting water droplets close to the flower's roots in order to further demonstrate this point. In a similar vein, politicians may scatter favors in the hopes that these inconspicuous deeds will quietly sway journalists' reporting in favor of more positive coverage.
Kelly's observations highlight the difficulties and possible conflicts of interest that arise in journalism, particularly when reporting on influential people who have access to materials that can shape media narratives. Her findings demonstrate how crucial journalistic integrity is to maintaining objective and truthful reporting in the face of such pressures.