Liu Xiangcheng's Pulitzer Prize

For Liu Xiangcheng, China's reform and opening up is another exciting "big" story.

As one of the best photojournalists in the world, Liu Xiangcheng recorded many "big events" with his camera: in India, Mrs. Gandhi was assassinated and racial disputes occurred frequently; In Sri Lanka, religious wars are raging; In Afghanistan, Soviet tanks and artillery are everywhere. "I almost got blown up by a rocket launcher." In the Soviet Union, Liu Xiangcheng witnessed the collapse of this huge state machine.

1990, Liu Xiangcheng was stationed in Moscow by the Associated Press. Time quickly rolled to19911On the evening of February 25th, in the Kremlin of the President's Office, Liu Xiangcheng was beside Tom Johnson, the chairman of CNN, and he became the only photojournalist in the global media. When passing through the checkpoint, the KGB warned Liu Xiangcheng that it was absolutely forbidden to take pictures.

At this moment, Gorbachev is delivering a speech that shocked the world. Superpowers will soon cease to exist.

Liu Xiangcheng is waiting for an opportunity. He visually measured the distance and quietly adjusted the aperture and focal length of the camera.

The speech was four pages long, and Gorbachev read the last page. "I want to stop all my actions as the president of the Soviet Union ..." Say that finish, I don't know whether it is anger or regret. Gorbachev didn't put the speech back on the table smoothly, but threw it with a jerk.

Between lightning and Shi Huo, Liu Xiangcheng's shutter clicked.

Almost at the same time, bang, a heavy blow from the KGB also hit Liu Xiangcheng in the back.

Liu Xiangcheng hurriedly explained to the angry agent, even pleading that he meant no harm, just wanted to publish the manuscript as soon as possible.

The KGB finally squeezed Liu Xiangcheng out. On the bright red carpet of the Kremlin, the reporter who came all the way was holding a camera.

Outside the gate, hundreds of journalists from all over the world are waiting anxiously. Seeing Liu Xiangcheng rushing out, everyone gave him the middle finger. "Fuck you!" They cursed, "This guy got an exclusive!"

The next day, the headlines of the world's major newspapers all used this photo taken by Liu Xiangcheng-"Gorbachev threw the manuscript", and an era was over. 1992, Liu Xiangcheng won the Pulitzer Prize for live news photography, and he became the only China person who won the prize.