In particular, the tech press should be greeted with gunfire.

(There are exceptions - there's even two people at the Register I'd ever speak to under any circumstances - but even if you know and trust the journalist in question personally, be prepared for their editor to screw you both over.)

The mainstream press can't work technology more complicated than scissors, but they have occasionally heard the word "journalism."

Really - unless you're actually selling computer technology, there is no reason to deal with the tech press under any circumstances. The canonical example of "taking people seriously just because they pay you attention is often not a good idea." If only WIkipedia had worked that one out early on ...

(I wouldn't count Wired as "mainstream press", but the scary thing about your tale is that Declan McCullagh has a generally good reputation for a tech journalist.)