I don't believe that a tacit censorship is imposed. I have never killed a story because of advertising. For both Variety and the Hollywood Reporter, keeping a credibility within the industry is vital. While both sell in the 30,000s daily, and more for their international weekly editions, they have an influence far beyond their circulation. Pressures are subtle.
Studios withdraw advertising from publications that they feel are too negative about their films.
And, as in every form of journalism, friendly coverage opens many doors - it's just that more people are anxious to see what lies behind the doors in Hollywood. Weary of the publicity process, he invented his own interviews with celebrities. The Christy affair has brought to light a different boundary, the often fuzzy border between journalism and publicity. It has raised once again the question of whether reporting Hollywood is really such a Great Life.