exactly

Thanks you! I've been waiting for someone to point this out

Well-known way for a company to screw a journalist they don't like. Wait till they hear a rumor you know is not true (there's always rumors, in every beat. If there's not a particularly good one floating around, hey, plant it yourself).

When they come to you, refuse to comment. Let them run the story.

Then jump up and down pointing out how it's wrong, the journalist is scum, and biased to boot. Next time the rumor is true, see how far they get.