CCTV Anchorman Wept

Zhao Pu, a young face that appeared in the live broadcast on May 12 Sichuan 8.0 quake and subsequent disaster relief activities, is remembered by the whole nation as the man who was choked with tear while reporting disaster-relief work in the quake-stricken areas on May 14. A video clip was uploaded onto the internet and millions of people watched it.

Chocked with Tear

When the monster quake hit Sichuan at 14:28 on May 12, strong tremors rocked many parts of the country. Zhao Pu was at home in Beijing when he felt the shocks. As an experienced news anchor although a new face at CCTV, he instantly realized he would be called to work pretty soon. He shaved immediately. The call came 20 minutes later.

He knew what he would do as a news anchor.First, what had happened and what was happening in quake-stricken areas must be made known to the whole nation. Second, the information on the whole nation’s response to the disaster, decisions of the Party and the government, and analysis and evaluation by experts must be effectively communicated so that the national audience including the people worst affected by the quake would be assured that help was on the way. It was important to make sure that the quake-stricken people knew that Premier Wen Jiabao and other state leaders were with them in the area and that a large number of PLA soldiers, professional rescue teams and doctors as well as disaster-relief materials and equipment were en route to the area and rescue and relief work was being carried out in a fast, orderly and controlled way.

Zhao Pu and his colleagues at CCTV live broadcast brought information and confidence to the nation.

Zhao Pu commented on the fact that he was emotionally choked and unable to speak for a few seconds while reporting news on the disaster-relief work. “Many people watched the video clip on the Internet. But the video did not show how emotion had built up gradually over a long time before the breakdown moment.” His voice cracked when he commented on a doctor’s statement. The doctor said to the camera that as he was a doctor he must do all he could to save people even though he did not know whether his son buried under the rubbles of the hospital was still alive.The doctor’s statement touched Zhao Pu profoundly.

Zhao applied to go to the quake areas on May 15, for he believed it was a difficult and standstill period for those in the quake areas. Rescuers were exhausted, reporters were exhausted and people under rubbles were trying very hard to stay alive. He offered to go for a few reasons: he was a man and therefore more convenient in the quake area; he was an experienced all-round reporter; and with the experience as a soldier, he was physically fit for activities under difficult circumstances.

But his application was not approved. He was needed at CCTV for live broadcasting.It was not until June 25 that a CCTV team composed of famous news anchors and emcees set out to visit the quake area in Sichuan. Zhao was on the team.

He was shocked by what he actually witnessed there. He said one would have to be there to experience the shock. He confessed his colleagues doing reports in devastated areas were truly admirable because words would have failed him if he had perched on a hilltop and faced a totally destroyed city.

Background

Zhao Pu had traveled a long way before he was chosen by CCTV for as a news anchorman. Born into a farmer’s family in Anhui Province in 1971, he joined the army upon graduation from junior high school. He joined the army not because, as reported in some media, his family did not have money for his further education, but because he did quite brilliant in the language and extremely poorly in science. The unbalanced scores greatly dimmed his future for college. So instead of proceeding to senior high school, he chose to become a soldier.

The three years in the army enriched him mentally and physically. Discipline and tenacity he acquired in the army have helped him a lot as a news anchor. He is never late for work and he can face a camera and report for six or seven consecutive hours without taking a break.

And Zhao Pu is a self-made man. He acquired a high-school diploma in the army and engaged himself in a college course beginning in 1995. He attained the bachelor’s degree in July, 2003 and since 2005 he has been studying in a postgraduate course at Beijing Normal University. He will have graduated by December 2008.

The 13-year education in spare time while working at different media has given him insight into goals he wishes to achieve.He says it is unforgivable if one does not seek lifelong education although it is forgivable if one does not have a collage diploma.

He took active part in speech contests while in junior high school and attended some training course for journalism. He worked as a broadcaster in the army for three years. He continued to work at radio and television in his hometown after he was discharged from army. Then he came to Beijing. While dreaming big dreams, he worked very hard and often held down several jobs while attending college courses. Then he worked at Beijing Television for 10 years before he was picked up by CCTV. Zhao Pu knows that he is employed by CCTV not because he looks handsome and speaks Mandarin perfectly but mainly because he has unique qualities and experiences. The quality report he made during the live broadcast on the May 12 earthquake and relief work proved his true colors.