Why would someone tell a journalist about UAPs and then tell them not to tell anyone?

Let me preface this by saying that i do believe in the UAP phenomenon and there is very much something going on.

But, something has been really troubling me recently as i read through an AMA on r/UFOs last week from a journalist. They claim that people on the inside come to them and give them all the information but then tell them to keep quiet about it.

This seems counterproductive to me as surely the last person you would give information that you do not want to get out (in some cases with an apparent threat on their safety) is a journalist.

Can someone explain why people tell journalists information that they want to keep quiet?

Thanks