Being a global reporter

14 October 2013

My name is Tian Chen, I’m currently a financial news reporter with the Global Times English edition in Beijing.

Before taking my job, I got a Master’s degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in the U.S. I was a 2011 alumna from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, with a major in International Business Management.

As a reporter with the Global Times, I am now producing at least one spot news story each day, and as well writing longer enterprise and feature stories on two-day basis.

I recently covered the Summer Davos Forum in Dalian from September 11 to 13. During the forum, I did a 30-minute exclusive interview with Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, and we talked about bilateral trades between China and Bulgaria, as well as business investment opportunities in each country. I produced four stories on Bulgaria-China relations, China Mobile’s monopoly position, China’s shadow banking system and the financial sector reform during the forum.

I just finished covering the World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention in Chengdu from September 25 to 26. I did interviews with Mu Yankui, vice chairman of Yihai Kerry Investment Co, which produces the famous Aurowana edible oil in China, as well as David Teng, chairman of Canada China Chamber of Industry & Commerce.

Before moving on to Davos, I was covering the infamous Everbright Securities trading error, which caused a dramatic swing in the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index on August 16. I produced 10 stories on that topic, with two day-turn spots and two in-depth features. I covered topics from the first statement released by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), to the online press conference held by the Shanghai Stock Exchange. I wrote an enterprise story about retail investors trying to hire lawyers to sue the Everbright Securities, after the CSRC said that the brokerage conducted insider trading.

Though stressful, my financial reporting career has been exciting and enjoyable. I thank UNNC for teaching me solid business and economic knowledge as well as the proper and efficient way to communicate with people.

My choice for my undergraduate education turned out to be one of my wisest choices of my life so far.