Law Hui Yip
Nobody can identify a person from over 2,900 people. Therefore, how can reporters accomplish the reportage on NPC and CPPCC, especially those fresh reporters like us who are still studying? Do they have some mysterious power like clairvoyance?
After experiencing the intensity of reporting on the Two Sessions Conference, I would like to give a sum-up here : nothing can help reporters but only intelligence.
Thanks to advanced technology, Two Sessions reporters can find out the identity of delegates from the security device at the entrance of the venue. It helps reporters to grab targets, but such trick is only useful in small group conference. Reporters cannot use the same trick in the opening and closing of the Two Sessions conferences as the assemblies would gather more than several thousand people each time.
Preparations affect results. For such a large-scale event, doing reporting can be messy if not chaotic in the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Reporters need to be familiar with the profiles of the delegates especially those coming from HKSAR. Knowing who’s who helps reporters to put forth relevant questions to the delegates.
An experienced reporter emphasized that equipments are extremely important for reporters. The camera and recording pen are the weapons of journalists to get photos and sound bites. However, he added that check out your weapons and do not be over-dependent on them as they may be out of order anytime.
As observed, Two Sessions reporters were so smart that they knew how to get the news in a chaotic situation.
As thousands of NPC and CPPCC delegates entering and leaving the Great Hall of the People almost simultaneously, the targeted delegates would be immediately swarmed and encircled by a large number of reporters, and a large number of swarms were thus formed inside and outside of the Hall.
The relationship between reporters and delegates is just like the relationship between cats and mice. My experience indicates that it is better not to stick to a particular swarm too long because you may miss out other swarmed delegates. One viable way to get news stuff is to watch out and follow some prominent TV news teams, but they may take the delegate away for exclusive interview.
Cooperation did occur. During the Two Sessions period, most press conferences were very crowded and it was difficult to take good photos without being blocked by people’s heads. Reporters were helpful to one another and some cameramen may even help you to take good photos at a better angle.
It is pity that if you do not know how to put forth questions to delegates, for it is not easy to catch a delegate and he or she is also willing to talk to you. I remembered that Samuel W. K. Yung (容永祺 – 港區政協), CPPCC delegate, was standing in front of me but I just could not think of a question to ask him.
Obviously, jotting down some news stuff from the delegate who you do not know is better than getting nothing, and the thing that you have to do afterward is to do some research to evaluate how far such new stuff is of news value to your audiences.
Waiting is the most stupid but effective method. Reporters can only hover around the venue, waiting for chances to catch a delegate for interview. Delegates who go out for toilet or a rest may answer you some questions. However, it needs luck!
Above all, Two Sessions reporters have to combat with all kinds of security personnel and police. Undoubtedly, the security guards help protect the delegates from being stormed and harassed by the reporters. Inside the Great Hall of the People, there were many restricted areas to separate delegates from reporters. There was nothing anyone can do about it.
I remember one such case: the security guards cordoned off an area to separate reporters from Tang King Shing (鄧竟成 – 港區政協), former Hong Kong police chief, when he went down the stairs, no reporter at the scene could chase him for an interview.
