Checkbook journalism

Is checkbook journalism (see p. 320 of your assigned textbook) an acceptable practice? How will the continuation of this practice impact the future of reporting? Could/should this practice be regulated or eliminated?
• Option 2:
Globalization is becoming easier as mobile/smart phones and devices, the Internet, and other technologies are making the world much smaller. However, your textbook author also postulates that these technological advances can be seen as a threat in some countries. How do these concepts coexist, or are they mutually exclusive? Are technological global advancements something that should be feared?