Everybody has lobbyists, but there are legal limits on lobbying. Lobbyists have to register and make some of their activities transparent. They're not allowed to be used for laundering money in political donations, which are sharply limited. Giving money to a newspaper to support a candidate may cross that line. It would take an FEC (or state equivalent) investigation to make a judgment (and probably the courts would want a say in it, too).
Newspapers also have ethical limits. Ethical limits aren't legally enforceable, but for the most part major newspapers don't allow pharma, hospitals, defense, etc. to cross those lines. There are always exceptions, I'm sure, but the newspapers still cling to the hope that they'll be seen as accurate rather than simply shilling for whoever pays them. It undercuts their entire mission.
So this isn't the same as the usual round of lobbying. Lobbying is a legal and regulated activity, a way for groups to coordinate access to politicians and plan their public relations. That always has the risk of being shady, but it's more above-board than most people imagine.
Except when the rules are broken, and in that case it might be a crime. That's newsworthy.
Newspapers also have ethical limits. Ethical limits aren't legally enforceable, but for the most part major newspapers don't allow pharma, hospitals, defense, etc. to cross those lines. There are always exceptions, I'm sure, but the newspapers still cling to the hope that they'll be seen as accurate rather than simply shilling for whoever pays them. It undercuts their entire mission.
So this isn't the same as the usual round of lobbying. Lobbying is a legal and regulated activity, a way for groups to coordinate access to politicians and plan their public relations. That always has the risk of being shady, but it's more above-board than most people imagine.
Except when the rules are broken, and in that case it might be a crime. That's newsworthy.