The media is hired because they have the ability to string words into paragraphs and stories in a structured manner. They do NOT have technical education in most of the fields they write about. If they did, they would be employed in that area.
The revelation that the media isn't even knowledgeable about technology shouldn't be a surprise - and should be an indicator that public news isn't the place to go for considered, thoughtful analysis. The media is at best selling the news they perceive as important to a public they perceive as being even more ignorant than they are.
Expecting a bleach blonde hired for their looks to understand the difference between automatic assault rifles supplied by governments and captured by the Mexican police, and the sporter rifles sold across the counter at gun stores, is an exercise in continuing disappointment. It's also no wonder most gun store owners on video look and act less than professional - real pro's never talk to the media. They know it will always be done wrong and used as misinformation. Only the doofus dealers go on camera. That's harsh, but real.
Looking from the perspective of my deployment, most avoided the news media, I still do. Having seen my wife interviewed recently, and watching the results further distorted to answers taken out of context and placed where the editor wanted them, I refuse to work with them further. I know for a fact the media distorts and misuses the statements of others, I don't ever rely on them as a single source of information. I would consider it criminal to do so.
But, good luck telling the clueless their favorite bubblehead is all wrong.