What elements make reporter (be-omit) professional? David Schlesinger, the chairman of the Thomson Reuters China, thinks professional journalist should have passion and know how to find the drama in the news.
Schlesinger has worked in the journalism field for more than 25 years. In 1991-1994, he was working in Beijing as a reporter. “It was the time right after Tiananmen Protest, at that critical point, media relies on China government release the news.” He recalled that when he got the reporter license from the government, “Finally, I was officially a journalist.”
In the past, many journalists were not trained to be journalists, “They were not (a-omit) university graduate(plural), and some of them were not educated by the professional journalism schools.” Schlesinger thinks that the key the be a good reporter is to learn from the stories you didn’t do well.
“You need to develop your expertise as well.” Experience is important for journalist(plural); some journalists are good at biology or chemistry. Schlesinger said his expertise is Chinese. “News is always about drama, you should bring it out and tell your audience.” Schlesinger added.