Today marks the 19th Journalists’ Day in China, a festival without a holiday featuring all journalists.

First established by the State Council in 2000, the day calls for the public to acknowledge journalists, which few people do.

Day by day, journalists try to present the bigger picture of the world to us, covering real-life stories from almost all corners of the world, but rarely tell their own.

Theirs, undoubtedly, is also one of truth, belief and love.

Many people have some misconceptions about journalists

What is the day-to-day life of a journalist really like?

This is a question that requires us to see beyond the camera.

Before the camera: Elegance

Beyond the camera: Striving for elegance

Before the camera: Ideal stance for interviews and speeches

Beyond the camera: Hardship is normal

Before the camera：A decent venue

Beyond the camera: Find any corner you can

Here’s what you should understand about a journalist’s life...

More often than not, they work long hours, are too nomadic to be good spouses or parents, and can get too busy to be close friends with anyone.

Nevertheless, they are always more than qualified to safeguard the truth, to explore the unfamiliar, to connect the government and the people, the local and the world.

They observe, they record and they participate.

During festivals, they broadcast during the holidays that they don’t take.

They stay where the storms hit the hardest, as people need a first-person account of what is happening on the ground.

While others retreat, they head for where the disasters take place.

Standing side by side with soldiers, journalists seek truth like a soldier seeks peace.

Journalists are brilliant dealing with any situation, keeping a cool head no matter what.

They bring the whole world to you, and you to the world.

News can arise anytime anywhere, and that’s why they can hardly find the time or place to be carefree enough for a thorough rest.

Though there are times when they do feel tired.

They never stop.

In today’s era of internet-based civic journalism, the working conditions of journalists have changed greatly, raising the demands for their skills with new technologies. Possibilities are that the only thing that remains unchanged so far is that journalists still stay true to their original mission, which means a lot to us.

They hope all the best for society, and we hope all the best for them.

Happy Journalists' Day!