Working with the only national English language newspaper in China, reporters are told the day they join China Daily to "bare in mind what our readers want to know".

And that is exactly what the China Daily team has done while covering the two annual sessions.

Competing with a large contingent of both local and foreign media is no easy task, as we jostle for those opportune moments in the Great Hall of the People, to get the story first.

This week I got a chance to stop a governor on his way to the washroom. Sad news was that I had hardly finished my question about new developments with a satellite launch pad, that a cluster of local media reporters, photographers and cameraman began swarming him, followed by a bombardment of issues not connected with what I was asking.

The governor, caught in the spotlight and stunned by the crowds of people, soon shifted to other "safer" topics, before being escorted away by his minders.

It frustrated me that my chance to get some concrete information was dashed by the media pack who spooked my subject with their "trivial issues".

But after giving it some thought I realised, we are all working for our readers, all of which have unique needs and interests.

Media work has been fanatic in the two sessions, and can lead to utter confusion, and exhilaration.

After the media scrum interviews someone, so often we hear, and at times in other languages reporters asking: "who was that person?", followed by another statement from someone else: "I don't know, neither".

Anyway, covering the sessions is definitely a test of speed, running, recording, photographing, note-taking and thinking.

My running ability and small frame has helped me catch up to people, and shove my way through a crowd.

But getting my head around the names and roles of all the players at the sessions is a challenge.

The other day I spotted a crowd of NPC deputies and CPPCC members drinking tea during a break.

I knew that some of them were experts in their field, and potentially good subjects to interview but I am stumped on who they are, or what they do best.

I even thought of making a suggestion to the NPC media center that more key information be provided on delegate and deputies' name cards to better serve reporters.

I wish there were more opportunities to probe further into the decision-making process.

(China Daily 03/10/2007 page3)