There are a couple of things to consider:
Having an Emmy means almost nothing. It certainly does not equate with honesty. So feel free to dismiss that.
Second, if payments were being made someone at the reporter level would never know about that. The business side of any media organization if far, far, removed from anyone on air. There is an inherent mistrust between the air folks and the “suits.”
Third: the on air folks have NO say about the stories that are aired.
While I want to believe this story...I have too much experience with being around the news business to believe this.
I believe the rest of it, just not the money. I can’t see any news agency actually selling their integrity. CNN would do it for free.
The protests in Bahrain were orchestrated by Iran, such as they were, which has a huge interest in stirring up trouble there.
Antiwar reporters aren't exactly trustworthy journalists either, whether they take a little green from Iran, or do it just for principle.