Trading news ... for what in return? Not enough readers and viewers know that reporting politics is too often like being a postbox - but a postbox forced to make deals to get the best mail. Bruce Hawker, Kevin Rudd's spin chief, gives examples: What about the rest of us, Bruce? July 3: WHEN we got back to the office we were straight back into work - deciding on the details and method of the announcement of the intervention into the NSW party. The announcement is scheduled for tomorrow, but Kevin wants to drop it to The Australian tonight. I can see trouble brewing - this is too big a yarn to allow one paper special treatment. It also means that neither the Sydney Morning Herald nor the Telegraph will get the best crack at a story that affects their state. Trouble? How so?: SURE enough, when Sam Dastyari found out that Benson was not getting an exclusive he became very worried and said that Benson would be cranky. Cranky was an understatement - Simon went ballistic. How do you fix that? July 13: SO, we decided yesterday to give the carbon tax-abolition story to tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph. Fiona Sugden and I put the story together and I phoned Samantha Maiden, who will splash with it tomorrow . . . I also had a story that there were celebrations among (Malcolm) Turnbull's staff and supporters when they heard that Kevin had been returned as PM. Apparently they had a meeting in a Paddington pub to work out how to maximise Malcolm's opportunities. I also gave this to Benson, who will run it on Monday. I want to make as much mischief in the Liberal ranks as possible. It will hopefully force them to close ranks behind Abbott. When information is treated as currency, the risk is obvious. What's the trade?