An Eye for News Chapter 15
Xie Wu’s driver who was an army
veteran drove a Chevrolet Cruze. He sped through town and arrived at County S
Tv Station at around 3.30 pm.
“Thanks, sir!”
Se Cai yelled as he leaped out
of the car.
“Young man, wait!”
The driver called after Se Cai
and after giving him an once-over, said, “I’ve been the Commissioner’s driver
for quite some time and this is the first time he has personally requested me
to help him drive a person. He must have taken a liking to you. Anyway, I know
you’re in a rush but I just want to remind you that our Commissioner’s first
name is read as Sai if you’re doing a report on him. He’s a minority and is
used to having his surname read wrongly. This has happened way too often for
him to mind but it’s still a sign of respect to get his surname correct, don’t
you agree?”
“The word 解 has an alternate
p.r.o.nunciation of Sai? It is indeed a rare surname, thank you sir for your kind
reminder!” Se Cai bowed in appreciation.
The commonly accepted
p.r.o.nunciation is Xie, even for Se Cai, it was the first time he heard it called
Sai.
Indeed it would be too
troublesome for Commissioner Sai to correct the reporting one by one since it
was the more common p.r.o.nunciation.
“Director Bai, I’m back…”
Se Cai stopped short because he
felt the atmosphere in the newsroom was unsettlingly different.
Normally, the place was a
chaotic hub, with people rushing here and there to meet the deadline.
That day’s newsroom though was
chillingly quiet. Se Cai scanned the room and realized most were gathered
around Xu Ran’s table.
The gathered crowd included rare
guests like the station manager and the station’s press supervisor. These
people were figures of certain authority in the station because even Director
Bai, the program director had to stand to the side.
“Perfect! This is the kind of
materials that we want! You’ve managed to capture the exact moment the thug was
tackled by the plainclothes officer! We must make use of this valuable footage,
play it in slow-motion if possible!”
Station Manager Wei Jian Guo exclaimed,
pointing at Xu Ran’s computer screen.
“This moment is too precious.
How did you manage to capture it?”
This had caused such a commotion
in the room that even the normally unmoved Zhang Xin Yu had huddled over.
“I happened to be around the
commercial building when Director Bai called me. I have a friend that rents a
room in the skysc.r.a.per opposite the commercial building. I asked him for a
favor and climbed above the water tower on his building’s rooftop to capture all
these.”
Xu Ran said more than a little
smugly.
“And where were you, Se Cai? We’ve
almost missed an important piece of news because of your absence! Thankfully I
was there to save the day. The jumper took a female reporter as hostage but was
eventually detained by a plainclothes police, this thing is huge! I’m sure it’ll
get bounced up to central news easily!”
Xu Ran saw Se Cai approaching
and turned on him.
He had been waiting for Se Cai
to return since this not only allowed him to put Se Cai down but also impress
Zhang Xin Yu.
“Xu Ran, now is not the time for
petty squabbles! You only have less than 2 hours before the news broadcast!
Quickly finishes the news and pa.s.s it on to the province and central news
stations!”
Station manager Wei Jian Guo
frowned. He then turned to address Se Cai, “Se Cai, I know you just came out of
the hospital but since you’re a reporter, you have to be serious about your
job. Don’t drag the whole station down with your laziness and tardiness!”
“Xiao Se, I heard that people from
the police bureau won’t let you in but I’m sure you must have some materials on
the surrounding areas right? Take them out and do a joint script with Xu Ran.”
Director Bai offered
diplomatically.
This was supposed to be Se Cai’s
a.s.signment and even though he was at the scene first but he was blocked by the
police and returned empty-handed. On the other hand, Xu Ran was lucky enough to
be conducting an interview in the skysc.r.a.per opposite the commercial building
when it happened. No matter how you look at it Xu Ran had the better
contribution.
Within County S Tv Station,
having one’s news bounced up to the central news was important because they represented
the reporter’s record of service. They helped immensely for promotions and
bonuses.
Se Cai was just systemized, this
was an opportunity that he really needed. Even though Director Bai’s tone was
reproachful, he was actually trying to help Se Cai.
Having Se Cai do a joint script
with Xu Ran meant that Se Cai could have his name on the byline.
“Joint script? Director Bai, are
you kidding me? All the materials here are captured with my camera, the latest
model there is and I also have pictures of the street scene. I don’t need Se
Cai’s contribution!”
Xu Ran knew what Director Bai
was going for and objected loudly.
Xu Ran came from a wealthy
family and was the son of the deputy station manager, the measly remuneration was
nothing to him.
He wouldn’t even want to be if
not for Zhang Xin Yu.
Normally, he wouldn’t mind
adding some other people’s name to his byline because after all, they were
still his colleagues and they had to look out for one another.
However, he was already annoyed
by Se Cai when he saved Zhang Xin Yu days ago and now he wanted to have his
news as well?! Over his dead body!
Later Se Cai found out because
his phone was dead, he failed to pick up the messages from Director Bai that
informed him of the unexpected development in the newsroom.
“Station Manager Wei, Director
Bai.”
Se Cai began earnestly as he set
his own camera equipment on the table, “I feel it’s better if we do a joint
script. I agree Xu Ran’s pictures are impressive but I feel they are too drab,
they don’t really portray the tension of the actual scene.”
“Se Cai!”
Gao Xiang yelped and pulled his
friend’s shirt sleeve, trying to make him stop.
“Drab? Do you think we’re
shooting a movie here? Why don’t we bring a lightning crew and sound technician
up there to glam up the shot? What’s an amateur reporter like yourself going to
know about good news material?”
Xu Ran continued angrily, “Do
you know how much effort it took for me to clamber up that water tower to
capture these materials? Who are you to be nit picking? Well, why don’t we see what
you have brought back, Mr. Great Reporter?!”