(Minghui.org) Greetings, esteemed Master (Falun Dafa’s founder)! Greetings, fellow practitioners!
I once heard a practitioner say that practitioners are pearls and the coordinator is the thread that strings the pearls together. I realized that being the thread is not easy: it is transparent and invisible, but strong. It showcases the beauty of the pearls. I realized the people I interview are also pearls.
Seventeen years ago, I was deeply honored and privileged when I was asked to write news report stories for Minghui.org.
The editor-in-chief said that if there were no reports covering local events, the effect would be limited to the local area; if it could be reported on the Minghui website, more people would learn about it; if it was included in Minghui periodicals, the impact would be immeasurable because so many practitioners in China would distribute the publication.
This helped me understand the responsibilities of being a Minghui reporter. At a minimum I needed to cover events. In the beginning, I asked practitioners to share their experiences or conversations from the event, but I later realized it was more straightforward to interview the spectators directly.
I was introverted and avoided talking to strangers but strangely enough, I suddenly seemed to have more courage. As time went on, I didn’t mind being declined, and I gradually asked questions of my own. Moreover, I was calm during interviews.
When I listened to the recordings of the interviews, I often regretted not asking a follow-up question. As my language skills improved, I often felt relief that I did ask a follow-up question. It seems I have gradually become comfortable with it.
I am aware that when I was unmotivated and lacked righteous thoughts, I felt deflated during the activities and would think, “I don’t think I will have enough interviews to write about today. Let’s wait until the next event and I’ll write them together.” When similar thoughts popped up the next time, I waited again.
Sometimes I had enough information after a few events, but I dragged on and ended up not writing an article. I felt I had let the practitioners down because I hadn’t lived up to my responsibilities and compromised the effect of their efforts.
It later became clear to me that as a reporter, I could act as a link between the interviewees and our readers in China. I realized that as a reporter, I should see the event from the reader’s perspective, listen with the reader’s ears, and ask questions that the readers wanted to know.
It may seem accidental that the passersby took an interview, but it may be a prehistoric vow they made to support Dafa by accepting interviews and sharing their views at this time. If they missed this opportunity, they may not be able to fulfill their vows.
In writing the stories, I felt I should be a spokesperson for the interviewees and express their support for Dafa and their condemnation of the persecution. I should show the readers, especially those who have been brainwashed by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), how people in a normal society look at the persecution, in the hope that it would broaden the readers’ minds and help them be less poisoned by the CCP’s deception.
Writing stories not only expands the impact of the local event but also allows the interviewee’s voices to be heard. The same is true while writing personal cultivation stories. When my mind is clear, I can clearly feel Master’s encouragement, and Master will send the interviewees to me.
It has happened so many times that after I became discouraged, I looked inside and picked myself up and told myself to hang in there until the end, and at this time, someone will sign the petition and be willing to be interviewed, or a fellow practitioner will have an interviewee come to see me. Sometimes I gathered just enough material in the last hour of the event.
One time, there was an event in two cities simultaneously, and it takes an hour to ride the train between them. I didn’t have an impressive interview in the first city and was nervous rushing to the second city.
Just as I arrived, I met the right interviewee. I deeply felt the interview was a gift from Master, because what the interviewee said was exactly what practitioners would talk about in truth-clarification, and was quite comprehensive. It could be used in my report to clarify the truth perfectly.
On another occasion, I arrived when the parade was concluding. I still tried to make up for it, so I asked a passerby for an interview, and that interview turned out to be the best interview that day.
During a recent event, I had trouble keeping up with the parade. After letting go of my anxiety, I met someone who spoke very well. I had a very successful interview and at the end of it, I was so happy to see the parade coming toward me!
However, I developed zealotry and was “ditched” again. I did not find the parade until the event was over. Although I completed the report using the interview as the main content, if I had maintained a calm and humble mindset, I might have been able to get more excellent interviews. Above all, more people would have been able to fulfill their missions.
For a short time I could not participate in the reporting team because of family commitments, but I always wanted to at least cover local events. Although I lacked feedback, after several incidents, I deeply realized Master gave me guidance and encouragement so I could improve my interview skills and increase my confidence. The following two examples are particularly memorable.
I had an opportunity to go to a country where I didn’t speak the language. I didn’t have a specific schedule, I just needed to pick up some stories over the two-day weekend. On Saturday, I attended the local group Fa study and asked for some interviews, but all the Chinese-speaking practitioners told me to contact the local coordinator because they only accepted interviews that he arranged. I didn’t have time to do that.
Only two Westerner practitioners who attended Fa study that day were willing to be interviewed, and one of them barely spoke English, where could I find an English translator?
I was very anxious and worried about returning empty-handed. I also had some internal complaints about the Chinese-speaking practitioners, thinking they couldn’t make up their own minds about such a small matter. But I immediately thought, “If so many people don’t want to be interviewed, is there something wrong with me? I must look inside.”
As soon as I had this thought the door opened and a nice-looking Western practitioner who had been living in the UK for decades entered the room. She is a media professional who happened to be there that weekend. She was not only willing to accept the interview but also willing to translate for me. All my problems were solved at once.
When I asked her my first interview question, she immediately asked me why I hadn’t asked her to introduce herself first. She thought I had forgotten, but she didn’t know that I had always thought it would be too blunt.
After the group practice the next day, she saw that I had taken pictures for nearly two hours, and asked me if I had taken full shots as well as close-up shots. I immediately realized that Master had arranged for her to come, not only to accept my interview and translate but also to help me professionally. It all seemed to happen the moment I decided to look inward.
That weekend was very fruitful for me, I picked up wonderful stories about cultivation, and got some pointers on how to be a professional journalist. Most importantly, I truly felt the power of looking inward and Master’s care.
Another time was an event prior to a large-scale Fa Conference, which was held in a country where I didn’t speak the language. When I saw practitioners I knew doing interviews, I wanted to help. A practitioner reporter wanted me to translate for her. Sensing her righteous thoughts were strong, I reminded myself this was what I lacked and I should learn from her.
She suggested I interview a small, unassuming-looking woman, and when I asked, she gladly accepted. The local practitioners then led her to the front of the event and set up a camera. We learned that she was a member of Parliament.
Because I had already asked her for an interview, the other media reporters did not feel appropriate asking her for interviews again, so I ended up being the main reporter interviewing her under the full glare of the crowd. All I could think of at the time was that Minghui’s interview could be used by other media, but not the other way around, so as always, I asked questions from the perspective of Minghui readers.
The interview was not long; the right questions rolled off my tongue without the least effort. I deeply felt this was an extra encouragement from Master, which made me feel more confident about interviews.
I am grateful to Master for Hhs protection and strengthening, and I am also very grateful to my fellow practitioners for their tolerance and trust. I hope I can remove my many attachments soon and fully carry out what Master wants.
Thank you esteemed, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!
(Presented at the Minghui Overseas Report and Minghui Window’s Internal Fa Conference)