I have been an investigator for twenty years now, with some cases that have recieved national and international attention.
There is nothing the media is reporting on that a bad guy doesnt already know, or can find out easy. Keep in mind, a criminal or terrorist is just that, 24/7- they dont work in shifts; its who they are.
The harm to law enforcement comes from television shows. The First 48, is a real concern to me, because it guves bad guys insight into interview strategies.
The CSI shows are the worst. People have real bad information from them, and when they get on juries, they can be pretty stupid.
The reason modern media covers events like this is there is all kinds of competition. They know viewers pop in and out of the news, and will stay tuned only if it interests them.
Also dont get caught up in the whole Miranda issue. Miranda is an interview requirement, not an arrest requirement. Most arrest of major criminals, by uniform coppers, are not read Miranda. Detectives read them at the interview phase. If a miranda violation is made, it affects the interview- and maybe only a portion. The whole case isnt thrown out.
