[4CJ]

In the case of journalism, you can read the paper or listen to the broadcast - but you cannot constrain the journalist to listen to you. You cannot require that, and s/he as a matter of policy disdain does not do so. S/he is important and you are not.

Better?

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

You cannot require that, and s/he as a matter of policy disdain does not do so. S/he is important and you are not.

Better?

Well, it certainly fits but. If they are self-consciously manipulative they would do it even if they knew how it reflected on their character - it would fall under, "never give a sucker an even break." They might for instance intuit that they would be discomfited if they were a guest on a talk show and I called in and asked for a distinction between "objectivity," which journalists claim, and "wisdom," which it would be embarassing to have to claim and defend.

If OTOH the journalist sincerely believes that he is the sharpest knife in any drawer there ever was, he would disdain to be questioned rather than being insecure about it.