If you say no, even politely, you risk inhibiting further ideas, not just from that reporter, but from others who heard that you turned down the idea.

如果你说“不”，即使是出于礼貌，你也可能会抑制（其他人）进一步的想法，不仅是那个记者的想法，还有那些听说你拒绝了这一想法的人的想法。