Koko Ko Shun-sze
Interviewing and reporting are the basic daily tasks for all reporters. It is unrealistic for a Journalism student to just focus on theories without practical newsgathering experience. It is my honour to be given a chance to attend the plenums of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) as a student reporter.
In the eight-day trip, I attended the press conferences and opening ceremonies of NPC and CPPCC, various group conferences. Undoubtedly, the opening ceremony of NPC on March 5 was the most eye-catching event.
Among all those hustle and bustle newsgatherings, there was a lesson that I could never learn from books. I was assigned to cover a group conference in a remote area that was almost an hour journey by taxi. I managed to get there and found out that restaurants in the nearby areas only served NPC deputies. As a result, we had no lunch that day.
This small incident let me realize that news work is a serious business. Sometimes, this identity gives you some privileges and makes you feel proud; sometimes, this identity challenges your patience and makes you depressed. You can’t give up, or else, you will fail.
I am thankful for the valuable opportunity provided by the Journalism Education Foundation. During the return trip to Hong Kong, I recalled and summarized what I experienced in the previous eight days: the outside world is a place with unlimited possibilities; I should keep on chasing my dream rather than stop once I have achieved a short-term goal.
