Yes, it happens often. Journalists get paid with scoops, etc (aka in the industry as "access") and that buys some favorable pieces and a sympathetic ear on the other side.

Here's an example (there are countless others from all parties and from tons of companies): http://gawker.com/this-is-how-hillary-clinton-gets-the-cover...

>Ergo - every decent news story amounts to 'bribery'?

Where did you came with this weirdo conclusion?

Bribing a journalist/media with scoops if something that happens, not something that ALWAYS happen -- so it doesn't apply to "every decent news story".

For one, not every scoop has been leaked to the outlet breaking it by the company/organization that the scoop is about.

>I think you bit your tongue on that one.

No, he really didn't.

George Orwell's "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations" is the best filter to apply in these situations.