Chequebook journalism

Chequebook journalism is when a journalist pays someone to get information or stories. It is like a paycheck but it is coming from a journalist instead of an employer. Journalists do this to get information that is not available any other way. It can be a secret document or a special story about something. It usually happens when a regular news story just won't tell the whole story. It can be a risky way of getting information, because it might not be true or it might get the journalist in trouble with the law.