But that is not just personal, but institutional as well. Foreign language illiteracy aside - a common problem among US-ers indeed - journalists who consistently submit stories rejected by the editors as "unsuitable" often find themselves re-assigned or even sacked. As Doug aptly observed, journalism is institutionalized idiocy rather than just low IQ of the reporters - albeit that is often the case prehaps as a result of self-selection, as obedient morons have a better chance of survival in the media environament than smart cookies.
The Nation's report a few months (?) ago on NYT science reporter Gina Kolata is a case in point. It is not that much that she cannot understand what she is reporting, but she deliberately does a hatchet job to make the story fit the NYT party line.
wojtek