It goes without saying that journalists aren't exactly up to speed on this issue.

The radioactive material produced by fusion reactions are mostly the elements of the reactor that are exposed to any neutrons produced by the reaction. In other words, the reactor structure itself becomes various isotopes. Some fusion reactions produce more neutrons than others. Unfortunately, the easiest materals to fuse tend to produce neutrons. I think something like eighty percent of the energy produced in a D-T reaction comes out as 14MeV neutrons. The fusion reactor is designed to absorb these in a "blanket" and use this energy, but it still "activates" the reactor materials. Neutron flux also creates structural problems in some materials, but this has been well-studied.

Careful selection of materials reduces the structural problems, and also greatly reduces the waste problem.

In any case, even the worst fusion reactor produces far less high-level waste than a fission reactor. As Mark points out, comparing tons of mildly radioactive steel with a few pounds of lethally radioactive nuclear fuel rods is not exactly an accurate way to look at things.

There are also some small hazard issues associated with tritium, which although mildly radioactive, can (as an isotope of hydrogen) be easily incorporated into the human body.