Via David Jones (and Andy Lark), a pointer to 2005 Top Ten Tactics to Influence Negative News: The PR Playbook by Sharyl Attkisson. An excerpt:

2. The Mine and Pump Strategy
Without giving up one scintilla of information, relentlessly “mine and pump” the news reporter for what he knows, so that you have tools to attempt to pre-empt a story and/or get a head start on damage control. Tell the reporter you can’t possibly agree to an interview without knowing things like: Who else will appear in the story? What are the names of all the sources? What exactly did the sources say? What pictures will be used in the story? Who made the story assignment? Demand the news reporter put any questions in writing. It doesn’t matter that you have no intention of providing answers or an interview. Stringing along the news reporter may ensure you receive the benefit of his information without giving up any information in return.