Still on about getting straight to the point (I’m talking about a hard news story here, not a feature), George Short, regarded by many as Reuters finest trainer, used to say, “Imagine you are on a bus and that you have to quickly shout out some big news to a friend as you are driving past – now mentally try that exercise with your story.” It does concentrate the mind. Ask yourself, what is the absolute essence of this story? Have I got it in my intro or is it buried or smothered in too many words?

Peter Mosley