Nobody could ever prove how the author accessed it. It just isn't even an issue, legally or otherwise. Setting aside the fact that it is a non-issue, in any ca

Nobody could ever prove how the author accessed it. It just isn't even an issue, legally or otherwise. Setting aside the fact that it is a non-issue, in any case many news agencies have various DB subscriptions, most public libraries have DB access, most universities have 'reader' accounts which grant access to these DBs for like $100 a year, etc. Any reporter who wants to access an article legitimately can easily do so. Else, they really do not belong in the profession of journalism, which relies on practitioners being resourceful and researching things in order to convey accurate information to others.