Boeing were late delivering the machine and needed to get it out to work ASAP. Further, they used a new kind of manufacturing and testing process. So more of the problems were discovered at work.
Then, and as
N210KD says, the Press want anything - particularly if it might result in DEATH and PAIN.
The 787 was handed to them on a plate, not least as Boeing had done a very big
PR launch tobrand the name, not the number. I have detailed that in other threads so won't bore you with it but it all backfired.