So again, why was it left to a couple of amateurs to write the story?

I don't think you are an amateur. If you call youself an "independent petroleum geologist", you have a certain amount of professional credibility.  And this does not mean that the "amateur" label should have a negative stigma attached to it.

On the other hand, I would call someone like myself a complete amateur on the subject.

The State of Texas calls me a licensed geologist, but I was speaking of my status as an amateur journalist.
That's ok, Jesus was a carpenter before his career as a prophet. If I were you I would stay away from "amateur jounalist" and try "eminent authority on oil."