Reflections on Character Interviews – 50 Tips on Writing and Reporting Experiences

Author: Zhang Xijie (Editor)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: This book integrates news works, reporting methods, and critiques, making it a must-read for news enthusiasts, the author, and researchers. It vividly portrays the emerging new figures and their moving stories from various fronts since the reform, presenting an unrhymed epic that reflects the rich diversity and vibrancy of character reporting in the new era. The book documents individuals ranging from the busy national leaders like the President and Premier, provincial party secretaries, and governors, to the ordinary farmers and grassroots officials toiling tirelessly in the countryside. It includes overseas students who return to serve their homeland despite advanced research conditions and material benefits abroad, as well as the elderly Red Army soldiers and the mother of the Hebei Zhong people who sacrificed their lives for the founding of the republic. There are also those who bravely stand against authority to fight bureaucracy in protecting national finances, and public servants who silently dedicate themselves to serving the people in ordinary roles. The book features both women deeply in love and a model husband who meticulously cared for his paralyzed wife for twenty-five years.
The author has worked in grassroots positions (including journalist stations), editorial departments of newspapers, and the "Red Wall" in Beijing for over ten years, a unique experience that lends depth and emotional resonance to his works. The language of his pieces is distinctive—sometimes rustic to the core, other times so beautiful it captivates the reader. Whether from the perspective of interviewing or writing, it serves as a "doorbuster" for aspiring writers. At the same time, it is an invaluable teaching material for news researchers and educators.