Not really the place to discuss CL in particular but he will break news for the Birmingham Mail around the same time it is being reported elsewhere although I think he may have been the one to print the Shay Given link first. No one is saying he doesn't get told much just that he probably doesn't know everything, he also wont be able to print everything if the club request that he doesn't to keep his sources happy. With the Internet stories just aren't all that exclusive anymore like they used to be.
With the sponsors in particular he can't print anything until a deal has been confirmed as things can and probably do change just like when he said there probably wouldn't be a home pre-season friendly. If someone asks him a question he will answer it if he knows the answer, someone asked and as far as he knows that betting company aren't our shirt sponsors.