The Art of Reporting Reporting and Writing Journalism and Media Studies Centre The University of Hong Kong Alex Lo

The Art of Reporting “Great reporters don’t get that way sitting around…everything that is worth doing in life calls for resourcefulness, courage and devotion.” Hsaio Ch’ien, in “Into the Wider World” No one gets any story by sitting in the office. Go out. Talk to people. Make cold calls.

The Art of Reporting Resourcefulness. Creative use of capabilities. Trying more than one way. I bet all of you are sitting on at least one worthy news story. Courage. Standing up for your principles. The strength to make people unhappy. I love upsetting people, especially those in power or have great wealth. But make sure you get all the facts right so you don’t have 20 lawyers going after you. Devotion. Working hard to overcome obstacles.

The Art of Reporting “The only qualities for real success in journalism are rat-like cunning, a plausible manner and a little literary ability.” Nicholas Tomalin, a good reporter

The Art of Reporting Rat-like cunning. It’s being resourceful, figuring out how to evade traps and get things. Plausible manner. The state of knowing little or nothing, but being willing to learn. A little literary ability. A little can be acquired.

The Art of Reporting Reporters are the heroes of journalism. What they do is find things out, amid chaos and against obstacles. If they don’t, who will?

The Art of Reporting Shared beliefs about the job: Information better than rumor and speculation. Resist and evade government or corporate management of the news.

The Art of Reporting Scrutinize and hold government officials and corporate executives accountable. In the age of state capitalism, whether in China, Russia or the US, officials and biz executives are often interchangeable. Monitor businesses and institutions for treatment of workers and quality of products. Give voice to people with opposing views. Perhaps! Do we need to give equal editorial time and space to people who deny climate change, evolution, the Holocaust or the Nanjing Massacre?

The Art of Reporting Reflect society’s values and vices. Every community or society gets the news media it deserves. The media also reflect the nature of the state or political regime. Promote exchange of ideas and viewpoints. Ensure justice is fair and open. But in Maoist China, the media were tools of the state to promote the social good, as defined by the state. Today, there is a titanic struggle between these two views of journalism on the mainland.

The Art of Reporting ? China's first astronaut Yang Liwei walked out of the re-entry capsule of Shenzhou V spacecraft at 6:45 this morning. He remains in good health after a 21-hour space odyssey. Xinhua, October 16, 2003 Head of Xinhua later disclosed this was a stage pic as Yang first emerged from capsule with a bleeding lip and bloodied face.

The Art of Reporting A good news sense. A passion for accuracy. Never assume. Don’t be afraid to ask. Skeptical. Unbiased. Empathize with people. Determined and compassionate. Independent, but realistic.

The Art of Reporting There are many examples of reporters who changed history with their resourcefulness, courage, devotion, cunning, plausible manner and literary ability. Put more simply, however, what matters most is trying hard to do a good job, day in and day out.

Art of Reporting Januarius Aloysius MacGahan (1844– 1878)

Art of Reporting was an American journalist and war correspondent working for the New York Herald and the London Daily News. His articles describing the massacre of Bulgarian civilians by Turkish soldiers in 1876 created public outrage in Europe, and were a major factor in preventing Britain from supporting Turkey in the Russian- Turkish War of , which led to Bulgaria gaining independence from the Ottoman Empire.[1]AmericanNew York HeraldLondon Daily NewsRussian- Turkish WarBulgariaOttoman Empire[1]