In what way did it backfire for her? She went to a subject they had agreed beforehand was off the table, but instead of refusing to answer, Picard gave his reasons for leaving Starfleet, and she got that out of him. If anything Fed Net would probably give her a raise (although if in the 24th century, money still doesn't exist I don't know what form it would take.)
A more prominent byline? Her interviews broacast in greater rotation? More prestigious interviews? Lots of ways to reward a journalist.