The Versatile Master Artist

”Listen, my friendship is not with the Economic Commentator magazine, but with you personally.”

Anna elegantly handed a goblet to the man with a struggling expression, ”Mr. William, would you like to become a friend of the Ilyena family?”

And so,

Reporter William really kneeled.

”To ensure news fairness and objectivity, I’ll let you, the interviewee, review the finished news draft and hear your opinion.”

The art of language.

Being bought by the powerful to become the mouthpiece in the chain of interests is the scum of journalism, a desecration of the news dignity.

However, being willing to absorb the interviewee’s feedback and ”neutrally” express one’s own viewpoint, then one becomes a morally noble good journalist.

Reporter William took a deep breath, accepted the champagne glass, and drank it all in one go.

Without directly kneeling to kiss the boots, Reporter William felt he was really showing quite the backbone.

No reason,

The offer was simply too much.

In journalism, whoever can get the news is king, and only the informants controlled by oneself are the most important asset for a journalist.

There have been instances where two journalists fought in an office over contact details for certain important news sources.

If Reporter William can consistently get important information from the Oil Painting magazine, he won’t care about any dogshit editors.

The elder can even ignore the chief editor completely.

If he can occasionally bring out some explosive content about the rumored soon-to-be-established oil painting fund—even though financial reporters rarely win the Pulitzer Prize, several secondary press awards are almost beckoning to him.

In the plot of the popular political drama House of Cards,

Zoe, the female reporter, developed a Democratic Party congressman into a long-term source, making her the most prominent person in the White House press room, even the boss had to greet with a smile.

Journalists with connections to heavy-hitting sources are indeed impressive.

”I... What do I need to write, Miss Ilina? There can be bias, but it can’t be too absurd, otherwise the editor will hold back the manuscript and readers won’t buy into it.”

Reporter William opened his mouth awkwardly.

Equivalent exchange.

They gave him a price he couldn’t refuse, so the demands must be significant.

In House of Cards, reporter Zoe sold herself and sent nude photos just to get the Democratic congressman to agree to exclusive information.

William would definitely love to sell a bit of ”appearance.”

But such a wonderful thing,

can only leave him drooling in dreams.

”Don’t worry, I don’t require you to be too obvious, just report as you normally would.”

Elina also raised her glass.

Having poor health from a young age, Anna led a very disciplined life.

She usually avoided any alcoholic drinks, and in necessary social occasions she used non-alcoholic champagne or wine typically offered in the Muslim world as a substitute.

Essentially, sparkling sugar water with flavored grape juice.

Anna took a light sip of the sweet drink, ”I just need to mention a few key points, which isn’t difficult.”

The girl chuckled softly.

From the moment Reporter William got in the car, Miss Ilina had fully anticipated all his changes.

The inheritors from the Old Money family are the best at dealing with journalists in the world.

If Anna’s family history template were thrown to Britain, it would be a proper hereditary aristocratic member of the Upper House.

Since the Glorious Revolution began, their profession has been debating, speaking, and dealing with media journalists.

No matter whether their insides are virtuous or corrupt, they can present themselves as national benefactors in the public eye.

Knowing how to interact with journalists is something almost engraved in the genes of aristocratic families.

She knew how to make the most suitable offer to journalists.

Using money to buy would probably require tens of thousands of Euros to achieve this effect.

Moreover, in the next collaboration, the other party would only become greedier, wanting even more.

Now, Anna just casually said a few words and successfully held Reporter William in her palm.

The other party gained a long-term source, while she acquired a long-term mouthpiece in the big media of the Economic Critic, without spending a penny, achieving a win-win situation.

”Besides, the most important thing is.”

Anna directly flipped the last pages of the shareholder resolution: ”I will have the secretary copy this information for you to take away, no matter how you report this shareholder meeting, you must let the readers’ focus fall on the debate over the soon-to-be-published Little Prince fairytale book.”

”Little Prince?”

William stared at the shareholder resolution packed with material, wetting his finger a bit with spit, rapidly flipping through the pages.

For financial media to focus a report on an upcoming fairytale book may seem a bit odd, but since it’s a proposal from the shareholders’ meeting, accomplishing this task isn’t too difficult.

”You don’t need to compliment the book from my perspective, but you need to make the readers of this report at least curious enough to buy a book to see what it’s like, that should be your area of expertise...”

...

After spending around ten minutes, finalizing the writing outline and several details with Lady Yelena.

Reporter William was ready to return to the hotel, furiously write, and rush to get this article completed before next weekend when Little Prince officially hits the shelves.

Though he was now enthusiastically wanting to write immediately, William prudently declined Anna’s offer to have a car bring him home, getting out and opting to call an Uber himself.