Reporters really have to run on high energy

Some of my family and friends are curious about me covering the two sessions-the country's annual political high season-and they often have a similar question: What is the most valuable feature a reporter needs to cover the two sessions?

My answer: An athlete-like physique. The answer usually fails their expectations, as they anticipate something like "sharp questions", "shining lipsticks or a bright outfit". But truth is, the basic requirement is the ability to carry a heavy backpack all day long and run fast.

My answer comes from ample experience. Running with reporters, spokesmen and women, National People's Congress deputies and members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and, sometimes, their secretaries, requires a strong physique.

And this year's two sessions raise even higher demands on reporters' physical conditions, as it will last for 18 days, from the opening of the CPPCC session on Saturday through the scheduled conclusion of the NPC session on March 20. It's the longest two sessions I've experienced since becoming a reporter in 2011.

During the two sessions, reporters have to cover numerous media events, talk with various people and be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We're also faced with huge pressure due to the competition with 3,000 other journalists also covering the two sessions.

My latest example was a race with other reporters to get a good spot in a group interview.

The first session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC, the top political advisory body, opened at 3 pm on Saturday. This year, a special interview zone was set up for the first time at the Great Hall of the People to give reporters a chance to question some national political advisers before the meeting.

Although the interview started at 2:05 pm, I arrived at the Great Hall of the People before noon, more than three hours before the official opening, to guarantee a good spot. And I was not the first one, as a dozen fellow reporters lined up at the security gate before me.

It was not too bad, I thought. I could thrust my way out and dash to the gate and win a good spot, until I saw another two security gates on the way to the hall. What's worse, another two lines of reporters were waiting from some other security gates and ready to run.

Reporters were allowed to pass the first security gate at 1:30 pm. All of a sudden, many runners surpassed me and dashed to the second security gate. It was like a mix of marathon and the 100-meter sprint.

Finally, I entered the hall and snapped a spot on the first row for the interview. It was 1:50 pm.