A nice & long story about an "illegal" (long-term, deep cover spy)...but there's nothing particularly special about that bit of the story.

At the most basic level, from a journalist's PoV - an Intel agency is just another news organization, that is paying you to provide them with information. Or maybe you're patriotic or loyal, and working at a discounted rate? Or even free.

And if they want the stories you write for other agencies to be slanted their way? Not much different from you getting the wine-and-dine-and-gifts treatment from some corporate publicist.

And if you like the "spy" stuff, or they're blackmailing you, then it's real easy to venture further down the slippery slope...