This is the practice of obtaining stories through making payments to an involved person. Generally seen as a negative form of journalism, compared to legitimate and traditional investigations. Can bypass moral implications in order to get the story. Professionals need to get paid (doctors, politicians etc.) as the 'official source' to will give their professional (and therefore respectable) opinion on an issue.
Ban the practice?
+ can influence outcomes of trials
+ can be biased
+ effectively bribing people to disclose information
- can be a legitimate way to reimburse someone for exclusivity
- 'better' stories, therefore sells more newspapers
