A salute to all journalists on Chinese Journalists’ Day

After graduating from the School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University in 2012, Liang Xinwen shuttled between Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Palestine. With her lens, she captured the devastating damage of the battlefield and the admirable resilience of life. As a war correspondent and on-camera reporter, she embodied the glory and dreams of her profession, while simultaneously experiencing unprecedented fear and facing countless threats of death in the relentless gunfire. Witnessing the immense cruelty and sorrow behind the wars gave her a profound new understanding of the mission of news reporting. Driven by this insight, Liang aims to use her efforts to inspire and influence those who can make a difference, encouraging ordinary people to take action for the betterment of society.

Pei Guangjiang, senior editor and deputy director of People’s Daily International News Department, is a distinguished journalist who garnered six China News Awards and about fifty People's Daily annual excellence awards. For four years, he worked as a correspondent for the South Africa Bureau and the Africa Center, traversing over ten African countries. In 2010, Pei embarked on a 57-hour journey on the TAZARA Railway, spanning 1,860 kilometers from Zambia to Tanzania, where basic amenities were scarce. In Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp, he lived alongside Somali refugees, sharing a single bed with his colleague while engaging deeply with families facing unimaginable hardships. Through his immersive reporting, Pei not only documented the realities of life in Africa but also brought the warmth and authenticity of its people to the forefront of his stories. 

From the fountainhead of the Lancang River on the Tibetan Plateau to the Sansha Islands in the southernmost part of China, Shen Bohan’s work as a photojournalist has taken him to the four corners of the country. A graduate of the class of 2004 from Tsinghua’s School of Journalism and Communication, his curiosity to explore, meet new people, and broaden his horizons solidified his decision to pursue journalism. After graduation, he joined Xinhua News Agency, where one of his notable works was covering the 2015 Tianjin explosion. His journey has been filled with challenges, from documenting earthquakes and fires to capturing the lives of critically ill patients in orphanages and AIDS patients in Africa. Shen’s curiosity about the world fuels every trip and report, creating lasting connections between himself and the people he photographs. For Shen, journalism is about more than reporting facts—it’s about telling stories that deeply resonate with people.

From a news photo editor to being named one of Xinhua News Agency’s “Top 10 Journalists” from 2003 to 2010, Xing Guangli was part of the first-ever graduating class of Tsinghua’s School of Journalism and Communication in 2003. His deep passion for photography drove his decision to pursue photojournalism. Over his 21-year career, he reported from numerous disaster sites, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2010 Yushu earthquake, and the 2012 London Olympics. With a calm and steady demeanor, Xing navigated through crumbling ruins, bringing the public crucial firsthand accounts of devastation and rescue efforts in life-and-death situations. The period from 2003 to 2010 marked the peak of Xing’s career. He believes, “A person's value lies not in wealth, fame, or status, but in what they contribute to the world and how they help others.”