The final stage of the journalistic process, the only one the audience encounters directly, is the words. They may be printed, spoken, or placed on a computer screen, but first they have to be prepared, and that usually means written. If they are boring, they will bore. If they are incomprehensible, they will not be understood. If they are clumsy, or illiterate, or ungrammatical, or inappropriate, they will annoy. No matter how good the reporting, how dramatic the revelation, how brave, despicable, corrupt, extraordinary or inspirational the events described, if the writing does not engage the audience all that came before it is wasted.