Prior to 1975 CIA field operatives were permitted to pretend to be journalists for obscure magazines. It was useful, it got access, it was a tool. Like pretending to be a salesman or field engineer. This is an SOP of EVERY other iintelligence service in the WORLD, except for our "pure as the snow by law" CIA.
Now, our talking heads condemn the CIA, which must spy with a hand tied. For pete's sake, they are not allowed to associate with nasty people any more! Then the media says "why didn't the CIA know what was going on in the terrorist groups?"
And they see no irony.
As far as the journalists who may have info on OBL but will not pass it on to the CIA, can you imagine a reporter stiffing the FBI about Japanese troop movements in 1942?
"IT'S A WAR!! GET USED TO IT!!"