Damned awful dogs set on journalist (6)

I believe the answer is:

cursed

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'damned awful' is the definition.
'cursed' can be an answer for 'damned' ('curse' can be a synonym of 'damn'). I'm not certain of the 'awful' bit.

'dogs set on journalist' is the wordplay.
'dogs' becomes 'curs' (cur can mean a violent dog).
'set on' says to put letters next to each other.
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'curs'+'ed'='CURSED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cursed that I've seen before include "Uttered profanities" , "Detestable" , "Damned" , "Hateful" , "Blasphemed" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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