I think the main problem is not that it's told like a story, it's that it's told badly. The non-linear structure is incredibly confusing, you can absolutely tell the story chronologically and keep it interesting, but it's sort of in fashion to meander about the timeline without reason. I've found these types of stories much more engaging by simply skipping whole paragraphs that diverge from the main thread.
> it's sort of in fashion to meander about the timeline without reason
There is a reason. A modern paper wants articles that are long, with the meat of the matter spread out thoroughly throughout, because this maximizes the amount of ads you can fit in between paragraphs, and maximizes the chances a reader will view them.
In general: if you're wondering why some aspect of journalism is rotten, it's most likely because it needs to accommodate advertising.
Has it occurred to you that the reader might like something that is long, because they see reading content of this type as primarily a form of entertainment?
It's not like there's a prize at the end, or some secret promo code hidden within the words. It's created for the purpose of idle consumption.
