I haven't read that one - but it makes sense in many ways. Clark would find it difficult to attend university - being a reporter is fairly easy as he needs to be out and about a lot, he does need to be where the action is, etc... but as his responsibilites grow, and the risks - he'd miss a lot of university. And though he can write very fast, it would increase the risk of him being noticed.

Travelling the world, and writing is the perfect thing - it's training, it allows him to learn what there is in the world, what he'd be saving beyond Metropolis, and gives him experience to get a job.

Thusly, Smallville, actually isn't far off a pretty perfect explanation of how a corn boy from Kansas (or whichever state Smallville is in this week), can become a world class reporter. That and his connection with a certain caped hero of course.