Before that they just wrote the stories themselves, and the presstitutes reported those as if they are their own stories.

Even in Europe. Udo Ulfkote was German journalist who wrote a book revealing he often printed stories in newspapers, with his name in the by-line, that were completely written by intelligence agencies and handed to him to submit. It was completely normal. He and other journos got kickbacks and perks etc. He came to regret it later in his career, and spoke out, but he was the exception rather than the rule. He also died youngish of a heart attack I believe.