Generally pilots are conscientious individuals who endeavour to do the best with what they have. Unfortunately this allows management types to cut training budgets to the quick secure in the knowledge that the training department will 'pick up the slack.' I think suggesting that some airlines have 'worse' training or checking standard than others is seriously subjective and almost impossible to judge. Slightly disingenuous but possibly another example of where self regulation within the airline industry is failing.
Perhaps our journalist friend should write an article contrasting the banking crash and self regulation with the drive towards the airline industry regulating its own safety oversight. The failings in this area will have ramifications almost as dramatic as those affecting the banks but with more human casualties.