No newspaper company, or owner, officer, editor, writer, or representative thereof, shall attempt improperly to influence any public official for or against any public measure or official action by threats of publication of articles derogatory to such public official, or seek improperly to influence such public official on the floor or in the cloakrooms or committee rooms of any general assembly or other legislative body, to which he has access because of his connection with the newspaper, for or against any proposed law, ordinance, or other legislative act.
R.C. §2739.18