I hear you Blacksheep but, whether any of us like it or not, financial departments are carrying more and more weight in corporate profiles these days (ahhh, the Almighty Dollar--or Pound as the case may be)...
I still think your beef may really be more with your corporate structure and the disproportionate influence that the beancounters have on the direction of industry, internally and externally, instead of journalism though.
A journalist can write the most sentaional, baseless, piece of garbage article--but (theoretically) that should have no bearing on your operation if there's no substance to the assertions behind the appeal for cynicism or panic.
Perhaps engineering departments everywhere need to stand up--back down the financial bullies within--and reclaim their influence.
Afterall, what you say is true--the ultimate responsibilty for knowledge and action behind all maintenance matters rests squarely on your shoulders.
PS. A smarter and more even tempered engineer than yourself is a rare commodity on these boards, and I suspect, in your work environment as well; I trust your insticts--and heartily encourage you to do the same--go get 'em tiger!
------------------
"You screw up, just this much; you'll be flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog-!!!!! outta Hong Kong"!