It's pretty easy to set things up to overcome this hurdle: say either the institute handles your enquiry in a scientifically honourable manner or you will contact one of the high profile muckrakers.

The most entertainingly written such blog to my taste is Leonid Schneider's:

https://forbetterscience.com/author/leonidschneider/

Most university administrators can see avoiding coverage like this is a good thing:

https://forbetterscience.com/2020/06/04/michael-hottiger-of-...