How to be a reporter

In the new historical period, our photojournalists should have and strive to improve the following qualities.

First, rich and keen news inspiration.

News sensitivity is a keen perception and judgment of the news value contained in news facts, and news sensitivity "from accident and necessity" is one of the catalysts.

News photography reflects the whole development process in a few tenths of a second, hundreds of seconds or even thousands of seconds, which requires photographers to have stronger news sensitivity than literal journalists. The instantaneity of news photography determines that photos can only reflect a certain moment of the occurrence, development or end of the whole news event, and the connection and contradiction between news subjects reflected by typical picture plots are often the core of the whole news event. Readers can infer and think back and forth according to this contradiction and connection, and complete the overall understanding and grasp of news facts and plots. Because of the reader's participation and thinking, the picture plot breaks through the limitation of instantaneous images, but the photographer must use concise image language to record the most shocking and infectious moments in the climax or peak of the news plot. This ability is the photographer's sensitive unique charm!

AFP reporter William? At the last minute of the men's floor exercise final in Sydney Olympic Games, West grasped the dramatic plot of winning and losing. Russian Prince of gymnastics Nemov played early and has been leading with 9.800 points. However, Vilov's last appearance shattered Nemov's gold medal dream by 0.0 12 points, and he couldn't help squatting on the ground, feeling dejected. Vilov didn't expect to beat Nemov, who dominated many times, and finally won the gold medal. He couldn't help jumping up. Of course, it was only a moment, and then Nemov immediately stood up and hugged Vilov to congratulate him. West captured the image that best reflected the essence of the game in this fleeting moment. Win or lose depicts the changing sports field, the famous players being swept away, and the sad and happy life situation of the new and old champions on the same stage by comparing the dramatic spatial positions of the characters in the picture.

Second, humanistic care is deeply rooted in people's hearts.

Classic news photography works are often full of strong emotional power. In recent years, China photojournalists have paid more and more attention to the emotional power in photos, and the awareness of humanistic care has also become the knowledge of photojournalists in news photography seminars in recent years.

At present, a popular saying in news photography is "If you want to touch readers, you must first touch yourself." In my opinion, photographers who are easily moved should be emotional and caring. Only in this way can we easily dig out touching pictures from ordinary life.

In the propaganda photos of Project Hope, Su Mingjuan's eager eyes touched countless caring people at home and abroad. Central leaders, ordinary people, Chinese at home and abroad, and international friends have lent a helping hand and become donors to Project Hope. The film was shot by China Youth Daily photojournalist Jie Hailong. The hard life and study of poor students deeply touched Hailong's heart. From 199 1, he went deep into poverty-stricken areas in China, covering 26 provinces and more than 12O counties, interviewing and photographing hundreds of rural schools, tens of thousands of rural students and rural teachers, and published hundreds of documentary photography works with strong appeal and shock. The photo of Su Mingjuan with big eyes is just one of a large number of touching photos, which is a classic photo taken when he was moved.

Third, professional knowledge is profound.

Some people say that a photojournalist is good now. Isn't he just holding the camera and pressing the automatic shutter? This is a terrible statement. In fact, a good photojournalist not only needs professional knowledge, such as familiarity with cameras, lenses and photography techniques; A solid grasp of emerging digital technology, transmission technology and news interview requires all useful social knowledge except photography technology and news interview, such as social science, natural science, public relations and so on. Photographers should also be saints. Usually, we should read more books and practice more, actively expand our knowledge and practice the kung fu of "leaning on a horse to treat him". Only by constantly strengthening the cultivation and practice of one's own news theory and writing level can one be comfortable in the work.

Fourth, the fighting spirit of going deep into the scene.

Being close to the scene is the basic requirement for photographers, and it is almost cruel for us to look at war reporters. Battlefield photographers put their lives and deaths aside, shooting a large number of shocking battlefield themes, reflecting magnificent war scenes and profound and meaningful connotations between square inches. "If the photos you take are not good enough, you are not close enough to the gunfire." Famous war photographer Robert? Capa Robert1913-1954) has inspired countless dedicated journalists to pursue the ultimate principles of news: authenticity and timeliness. However, this inevitably makes journalists a dangerous profession-the closer they are to gunfire, the closer they are to danger and death. A survey report recently released by the American NGO Committee for the Protection of Journalists pointed out that in 2002, 19 journalists were killed in the process of carrying out their interview and reporting tasks, and another 17 journalists' deaths were not fully investigated, but they were probably killed because of retaliation for their own reports. Just like Kenji Gaina, his mantra is "Nobody wants to go to a dangerous place, but someone should go". This time, he also went to Myanmar voluntarily and temporarily. At that time, it fell behind the demonstrators, probably to take more urgent photos.

War correspondents can capture news moments on the spot, truly express news facts and expand the dimension of fact space. American troops dropped napalm bombs in Vietnam, and the children fled their burning village in tears. They panicked and ran for their lives. A nine-year-old girl was naked because she wanted to take off her burning clothes. She screamed. It can be seen from her frightened face that she can't bear physical pain and mental fear. Isn't this enough to show the cruelty of this war of aggression? It not only aroused people's sympathy and sense of justice, but also played an excellent role in setting off the tense and horrible atmosphere at the scene under the background of thick smoke. This was taken by Huang, a correspondent of the Associated Press in Saigon at that time. It was named "Village Destroyed" and was rated as the best news photo of 1972 by "Jose".

5. Focus on social life and tap the surging passion of the ordinary world.

Comrade Mu Qing said: Photographers are journalists first, but journalists should discover news, dig news and spread news, and shoulder a strong sense of social responsibility. Our understanding of good news photos is not only a perfect combination of technical aspects such as "focused theme, well-proportioned composition and moderate exposure", but also regards photos as an expression that is deeply rooted in people's hearts and as a manifestation of self-existence. A good news photo is bound to vividly reflect the main contradictions and historical trends in contemporary social life with a concise image. The picture contains the photographer's infectious passion and devoted human observation, and it can arouse readers' strong * * * if this passion and observation are displayed skillfully.

Interpretation 12 The First Prize of China Journalism Award "A Hero's Wife's Search", the picture is set in the cemetery environment, and the soldiers are strongly contrasted with the tombstones behind them with telephoto lenses. The "plateau hero" stood in front of his wife's grave, closing his eyes and holding back his tears. For eight years, his wife, who died in childbirth on the plateau, was buried here, and the hero's wife-seeking actually stepped out of the grave. After learning this touching story, photojournalist Yuan boarded the plateau to accompany the hero to pay homage to his wife, just to capture the moment when the hero was absorbed. When the reporter learned that this photo won the prize, he had such a monologue: My heart is as hard to say as this "old plateau". This medal doesn't seem to belong to me, but it looks so heavy, like the medal hung by the hero in the picture. This photo records a page of heroic history, but it is not a cold objective fact, but a life that people really interpret. At this moment when the true feelings are revealed, we understand the broad feelings and the beauty of human nature of plateau soldiers. For photographers, news facts are fleeting. Without a strong sense of social responsibility, Yuan He was forced to conduct a personal interview and record it in his sketch book (camera), but it is impossible to grasp the passionate moment on this plateau by observation.

Sixth, the synchronization efficiency of rapid reflection.

Nowadays, in the "picture-reading era" and "network era", the audience's demand for information tends to be short, flat and fast. How to highlight the news value of news pictures is an important factor to ensure the "first timeliness" of news pictures. News photographers should strive to master digital technology, improve the speed of photo production and dissemination, and speed up the synchronization with news events. Strive for newspaper layout and cyberspace with the quality of photos and the speed of publication.

Seven, innovative shooting consciousness.

Ehrlich, the "father of news photography"? Solomon once said, "If a photojournalist doesn't want to be just a craftsman, then he must make unremitting efforts to create images, and he should repeatedly think about how to get' unique' photos".

However, at present, many photographers are complacent after their small achievements, always intoxicated with their own works and ideas, lacking the sense of innovation and crisis of keeping pace with the times, and often prefer to stay in the past "stylized" and "machine+people" photo shooting mode. This is not only the enemy of modern photojournalists' innovation, but also unable to integrate with the news communication in the new era. Only by keeping a clear head at all times, being prepared for danger in times of peace, studying hard and being brave in innovation can our news photographers surpass others, surpass themselves and bring forth new ideas, and shoot more and better news photography works worthy of the times in the media competition in the new century.

The consciousness of innovation is manifested in free creation. What is freedom? Freedom is bold thinking and action after truly understanding and strictly observing some basic restrictions. This is as Goethe said: "If a person has the courage to declare that he is restricted, then he will feel free."