I have to disagree HH. I have seen Pilots chastised CPs for reporting maintenance issues. It eventually leads to a situation where the CP will start looking for excuses to sack that pilot. A colleague was recently in a situation where he reported a serious problem in flight and had photographic proof of the problem occurring. When he reported it the CP didn't believe him. When he produced the photo he was told that his flying was at fault because the problem had not been reported in the previous ten years that the operator had operated aircraft type.
It's like nineteeneightyfour.
If it wasn't reported it didn't happen, great safety culture
The only thing that can stop this is public complaint and actions. If Journos don't want to travel in dodgy Chieftains then they will have to front up the extra cash to fly in something newer and safer-vote with their feet.