checkbook journalism Written by Lorna Veraldi Contributor to SAGE Publications's The SAGE Encyclopedia of Journalism (2022) whose work appears in Britannica as part of a joint publishing agreement with SAGE. Lorna Veraldi Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 27, 2026 •History Checkbook journalism is the label applied when journalists or their news organizations pay for information. Print and television tabloids freely admit that they regularly offer cash in exchange for exclusive interviews or news tips. However, most mainstream news organizations, along with the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), condemn paying for interviews, arguing that it undermines journalistic credibility and independence. At the same time, these organizations sometimes pay for the right to use video or photos....

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