I'm guessing so, OP. Apparently if a journalist wants to "earn" their credibility they MUST go through every Ring of Hell, or whatever nonsense and go through decades worth of intense and frequent hellish experiences. And that's JUST to be slightly considered for a better parking spot.

Sorry if that seems childish, OP. It's just that I've seen online for many years now that so many journalists have traded their very souls or at least all sense of ethics and crediblity for a stable paycheck and job security.