Is or was?

This blog attempts to look at the usage of English in daily life which also includes the media. It has to a lot to do with grammar. Therefore this question:

Shouldn't the is, the third person singular present tense have been avoided and the singular past was employed in this headline in Moneylife, Someone knew Narayana Murthy is coming back and traded on it?

It is like this, If he was to come back, I would welcome it. If not Infosys would have to settle for what was its fate.

Having said this, Moneylife is a useful, brave journal.

Talk to or talk with?

Moneylife, a periodical which also updates news on its website, used this expression:

Phaneesh Murthy, "speaking with reporters, said" whatever he said when conveying his side of the story on the sexual harassment allegations against him (till a court convicts him, we shall qualify it with 'allegation' unlike newspapers and television).

Read the relevant third paragraph in this link.

The question is, does one talk to reporters or talk with?

My understanding is 'talk to' is an Americanism. 'Talk to' is is English English, so to say. The second is used, some blogs explain, when a person is engaged in conveying information to more than one person, as reporters (plural here). But when two persons are engaged in a conversation, which is an exchange of information or views, it has to be talk with. Aren't reporters asking questions and the person responding, making it a conversation? Perhaps  it is putting a fine point to it.

This blog invites comments, and welcomes even a correction.