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Core Skills - Print and Online Journalism Accuracy: Spellings of proper names, titles, times, ages; accuracy of quotes and accuracy of all checkable information. News: Ability to spot and prioritise the key points of a story. Balance: Access to a range of relevant opinion and sources of facts. Checking: Of sources, and of your own writing, and of work of colleagues (photographers). All identities, and spellings. Compression: No waffle Speed: Writing and working against the clock. Here are six 'A' points to remember: Angle: the lead point of the story Amplify: explain the intro points one by one Attribute: Who is saying, or giving out, the information Accuracy: No errors in copy. Attack: pace of writing - few commas, active verbs, one idea sentences. Amputate: stop and cut. Check, check check and then send the story.