They stated they sent hundreds of emails and 70 responded. The only confirmation is their statement of actions taken to create the article(s).
Edit (per the first sentence of the reply): The media representative's location relative to the person being asked the question is irrelevant in this era of communication.
The following is an incomplete list of current communication methods used by the media:
- Text/SMS
- Voicemail
- Video call
- Fax
Emails are as impersonal and professional a means of communication with sources as those listed above.