Never flown with a frontline RAF unit so I don't know how they work media flights, but have flown quite a lot with the US and, with only one exception, every fast jet sortie I have been on has taken on an operational flavour (sometimes with a short break to get photos).
Why? Because they still have to get some training value out of the sortie, even if there is a journo in the back. With cutbacks in annual flying hours, this is now ever more important.
As for this journo, it was his choice to go and I am glad he did: I loved the story.
Fire the pilot? You have to be kidding!