Yes, reporters gather information from various sources and put it in a story.
Sometimes stories are gained from press releases, which means no-one "breaks" the story, but sometimes one media source fins the information themselves and does "break" the story, like in this case.
Actually, that is completely wrong.
When it comes to scandals, and that is what we are talking to about on this thread... it goes something like this.....
Politician does something scandalous.
One of his 'friends', 'colleagues' or enemies hears about it.
They call a media outlet and spill the beans.
Media outlet may - or may not - check for accuracy.
Then they run the story..... it 'breaks'.
Now, if that politician is a Republican, the guy with the dirt will, more than likely, call a left leaning outlet - because they are more likely to run it without being too careful about the 'facts'.
If that politician is a Democrat, the guy with the dirt will, more than likely, call a right leaning outlet - for the exact same reasons.
They take it to the outlet that either they think is most likely to run it, or with which they already have a 'relationship'.... ie that the guy with the dirt already knows a journalist at a particular paper or outlet.
It is not the journalists who go looking for it, it gets handed to them. Democrat sources will usually go to a left leaning outlet. Republicans will usually go to a right leaning one.
End of lesson.