More (not so) fun facts:
54% of American adults read below a 6th grade level.
21% read below a 5th grade level, which is considered functionally illiterate.
High immigration numbers don't fully explain it either, as first gen immigrants only make up about 1/3 of those with low literacy.
That's something I'd expect to hear in defense of someone who doesn't want to choose a STEM/medicine/business career path, not in defense of not being able to read and understand a NEWSPAPER.
the newspaper doesn't benefit most people. it doesn't report the drama between their friends and family and neighbors.