On December 26, 2023, in the studio of Shijiazhuang Radio and Television Station, Yang Xu was interviewed by many media. Photo by Hebei Daily reporter Bai Yun
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Next, let's take a look at the rankings of the three players. "On the evening of December 24, 2023, at the finals of the 2023 Host Contest of China Central Radio and Television, the host Nigmaiti's voice just fell, and three scores appeared on the screen, of which the highest score was 98.696 points.
This result belongs to a Hebei player. The camera showed the contestant a smiling face, and the host announced at the same time, "Congratulations to Yang Xu!"
Yes, his name is Yang Xu, 26 years old this year, graduated from Hebei University of Media and Communication, and works for Shijiazhuang Radio and Television Station. He passed all the way in the 2023 China Central Radio and Television Host Competition, and finally won the championship in the finals.
Recently, there has been a lot of news about Yang Xu, and we made an appointment with Yang Xu alone and had a deep chat.
In November 2023, Yang Xu was at the recording site of the program ""Ji" Art Shenghui". Photo courtesy of Yang Xu
Those who chase the light will surely shine brightly
On the morning of December 26, 2023, the studio on the 6th floor of Shijiazhuang Radio and Television Station. Yang Xu became the subject of interviews with his colleagues, and the background was the night scene of Shijiazhuang where he recorded the program "People's Livelihood Concern" in the past.
Reporter: First of all, congratulations to Yang Xu for winning the 2023 China Central Radio and Television Host Competition. How has life changed in the past two days?
Yang Xu (laughs): Recently, I suddenly discovered that the number of followers of the Xiaohongshu account has increased from 6 to more than 1,700. The number of followers on Weibo accounts has risen from a few hundred to nearly 3,000.
Reporter: What is the latest arrangement?
Yang Xu: After the game, I hurriedly bought a ticket and took the high-speed train back to work, and there was still a lot of work to be done, although I was so sleepy on the return bus that I couldn't open my eyes. After the finals broadcast on the evening of December 24, I called home and silenced my phone. The next morning, I found that there were so many missed calls and unread WeChat that I couldn't get back, and even this one was reading, and a new one came in.
Reporter: Your little friend said that in 2023, you have gained a lot and completed 4 major events.
Yang Xu: Participating in the competition and the work in the station are carried out at the same time, and often after the recording in Beijing is finished in the early morning, he rushes back to the station to record the program by the earliest high-speed rail, and the other contestants are the same. These four things, as one of the main creators, created and hosted two programs "Meet Shijiazhuang" and "Approaching Shijiazhuang Agricultural Special Products", passed an exam in July, and won the host competition championship in December. During the competition, almost every time I came back, I had to seize the time to brush up on the taxi or high-speed rail or prepare copywriting, and go out on location when I got off the bus.
Reporter: Someone commented that you have turned from a "little transparent" to a "dark horse" in the finals, what do you think?
Yang Xu: Before, everyone thought I was transparent because there were too many excellent players competing in the same field, and the light on them was very bright. While I'm not that dim, it may seem like I'm a little transparent under their bright light. It's a good thing for me that I wasn't noticed. The less attention the outside world pays to me, the more I can calm down and devote myself to the game, and I don't think about the comments of netizens, I just want to play well in every game. There is no so-called dark horse, they are all the hard work and the road they have traveled, and they have precipitated step by step.
Reporter: Netizens commented that your hosting style is simple and stable, and your feelings are strong. Judge Yang Yu commented on one of your competitions when he said that you are "elegant and confident", what do you think?
Yang Xu: What the camera didn't broadcast was that after Mr. Yang Yu commented, I cried so much that my snot ran down my chin. Actually, I'm a very social phobia, and I have low self-esteem. I don't know if what I say or what I do can be recognized by the audience every time I present it on the stage, I have been doubting myself.
Including seeing so many hosts on CCTV who I couldn't see before, everyone went to take photos with the teachers, I also wanted to, but I couldn't move.
I am grateful for the teacher's comments and she saw that I was doing my best. I think the confidence she sees in me may not come from every presentation, but from the content I prepare that can be recognized by everyone.
Reporter: You said in the program that "those who chase the light will be full of light", what else does this competition bring you light?
Yang Xu: The competition gave me a chance to showcase. I usually host a lot of people's livelihood news, and I rarely dabble in other types of programs, and I don't know if I can do it.
One game at a time, I knocked on the door and saw more possibilities for myself. It turns out that I still have this style, and it turns out that I can do such a show.
Reporter: When the host Nigmat announced the final results, your score was even higher than that of the previous champion, and I noticed that your expression was very surprised.
Yang Xu: When I saw that the judges scored so many 99 points, I was really surprised. I think this score is too high, and it is definitely not me. It wasn't until the moment the host pronounced his name that he realized that it was true.
I was looking around the stage. Because I never thought that the big names and seniors in the industry who could only be seen on TV before sat in front of me and listened to my story for half a year.
Starting from the national audition, 600 players advanced to 120 people, and then entered the top 60, top 30, top 18, top 6, top 3, and to the championship, which felt like a dream.
I also bowed deeply and thanked everyone, for this stage, and for myself.
In September 2023, Yang Xu was at the recording site of the program "Meet Shijiazhuang - Agricultural Special Products". Photo courtesy of Yang Xu
Every step counts along the road traveled
On the afternoon of December 26, 2023, the reporter followed Yang Xu into the office on the 13th floor of Shijiazhuang Radio and Television Station, and his appearance triggered cheers and applause from his friends. Someone came over and patted him on the shoulder and gave him a thumbs up. Yang Xu smiled and swiped his card to turn on a computer, called up the half-cut film before the game, and prepared to continue.
Reporter: I heard that you can do everything from on-camera hosting to copywriting, and in the 18-in-6 semi-finals, you also completed the preparation of ""Ji" Art Shenghui - Entering the "First Village of China's Palace Lantern""?
Yang Xu: This competition is called "going out", which tests the host's comprehensive practical level of collection, editing and broadcasting. The column group is equipped with several camera teachers for each contestant, and it is required to produce a 5-minute appearance program in a short time, but what questions to choose, how to arrange, and how to explain are arranged by the contestants themselves.
Before shooting, I would communicate with the camera teacher in advance about what kind of picture I wanted and what to express. I chose Gaocheng Palace lantern production, one of the frames shows the interviewee's whole family making lanterns, and normal shooting is fine, but I think this shot can be a little more energetic, so I asked the camera teacher to shoot in the middle of the lantern, and the effect is better.
In the post-editing, I went to the computer room to pick the shots, and the picture could be more consistent with my hosting words. I'm an in-depth participant in this film, leading the film, not a narrator.
Reporter: It's because of the competition that you did the whole process yourself?
Yang Xu: No. After graduating from the broadcasting and hosting major, I positioned myself as a reporter first and then a host. I love going to the front line and I'm willing to listen to a lot of people's stories. If you know well enough, the more you will be able to sit in the live broadcast room. Reading unfamiliar copywriting written by others is definitely not the same as hosting with your own feelings. Clips too. I've been to the scene and know better which shot is the best way to convey the subject. Learn more and use these more in order to make the show better, but I didn't expect to use it this time. Like I said in the game, every step counts when you go through.
Reporter: In the three games of the finals, there is a time limit for each game, and almost every game you just happened to explain the host speech to the last second, how did you do this?
Yang Xu: I usually speak fast, so I will first roughly estimate what I can say within the specified time according to the requirements of the competition. It will not be specific to which sentence or word to say next after the sentence is finished, but to grasp the key words of each point and organize the language according to the topic and logic.
This is also practiced from school to work, in one hosting after another. Look at this photo, this is February 18, 2021, my first live broadcast, although I was not the protagonist in that host, but both hands are sweaty.
Reporter: Many netizens admire your ability to quickly organize the host speech according to the theme and props. Everyone, including me, wants to know, how did this work?
Yang Xu: This is one of the basic skills of the host. In the process of hosting, there may be various unexpected situations, and the host must respond on the spot, not to let the field get out of control, let alone cold.
In the impromptu oral expression classes at university, the teacher often trained us in this way. For example, take a water glass, let us associate it on the spot, and improvise it. In addition, everyone thinks that the host is very capable of speaking, and this statement is logical. If you make a stumble or forget a word on stage, a few seconds are mistakes, and it will be a long time for the audience.
Reporter: Many people think that your host is comfortable and mature, how do you train this?
Yang Xu: Since my second year of college, I have hosted various evening parties at school, and I also went outside the school to host some other hosting activities, such as some conferences, but I did not accept weddings and commercial performances. My classmates also asked me why I didn't take these two most profitable items? I was afraid that I would be immersed in the world of making quick money and forget to precipitate and improve myself. Now I see that I made the right choice.
Reporter: In the second game of the finals, the prop you drew was an annual ring chart, I saw that you were almost stunned at the time, and then you relied on accumulation or just preparedness to solve the problem?
Yang Xu: It's really stupid. Some netizens also asked me this question, will I prepare for the surprise before the game. There are a few grinding guns, but more of them are daily accumulations. Personal experience and continuous Xi are important.
When I saw this picture, my first reaction was that the growth rings mean growth and the trajectory of life. I thought of when I was a child, and every time I grew taller, my family would use chalk to carve a mark on the door frame.
I also learned in biology class that the width of the rings is due to the different light and nutrients of the trees in different years. Just like people have different experiences and different personalities. Depending on the topic, I quickly search for relevant materials in my head and organize them together.
This morning, my peers released the top ten domestic science and technology news, and I immediately searched for it. I hope that I can always break the circle and absorb new things all the time. I may not have been able to remember everything at the time, but one day when I was in front of the interviewee, it would be imprinted, and it would be easier to prepare accordingly.
On December 28, 2023, Hebei University of Media and Communication, Yang Xuzheng rehearsed. Photo by Hebei Daily reporter Bai Yun
Stay close to the light and hope that you will be the light and be able to radiate the light in the future
On the morning of December 28, 2023, the studio of Luancheng Campus of Hebei University of Media and Communication. Yang Xu, as a special host, is rehearsing the school art festival in the afternoon. The director cooperated with him every time he called to stop, and some younger students came on stage to take a photo with him, and he also smiled and agreed.
Reporter: Won the championship of the 2023 China Central Radio and Television Host Competition, and still preside over the school-level art festival?
Yang Xu: The art festival of my alma mater was the first stage I appeared on during my college years. 4 years of college, presided over 4 times. I am also grateful to the school for giving me the opportunity to have the possibility of the future. I made an appointment before the finals of the host competition, and I will come back to host this year. At the same time, I would like to share some of my experiences with the younger students.
Reporter: Why do you want to take the initiative to share these experiences?
Yang Xu: I came out of Huailai County, Zhangjiakou. When I was in junior high school, my teacher asked me what my dream was, and because I had hosted a class party, I blurted out that I wanted to be a host. Another teacher said how could you be a presenter, and it stung me. I haven't tried it, how do I know it doesn't work?
4 years ago, I signed up for the host contest and was brushed off in the interview stage. My second registration in 2023 comes from a sentence from CCTV host Sa Beining: You won't lose anything if you sign up, but if you don't sign up, you will lose a very important opportunity.
In the competition, I said, "Close to the light, I hope that I will become the light, and I will be able to radiate light in the future", and I also want to let myself emit a little light, so that the younger students can have this courage and avoid some detours.
Reporter: What have you learned in this important opportunity?
Yang Xu: After the host competition, there is an extended program "Blooming New Voice", and every recording has to wait for the end of the host competition. One recording was scheduled to take place in the afternoon, but it was postponed to 3 a.m. the next morning and ended at 5 a.m. Later, I learned that the host of this show, Mr. Ju Ping, arrived at the scene at one o'clock in the afternoon on the first day and waited for more than ten hours. At the end of the morning, I have to catch a car on a business trip. Even if she was so tired at that night, she still took every oral broadcast seriously, and if she was not satisfied with a word, she would ask to do it again. Her seriousness is also "lessons" for us players.
In many rounds, I was drawn to the number 1 several times, and the pressure to be the first one to appear was very high. Nigmat came to comfort me while I was waiting, and he patted me on the shoulder and said, "1 is a good number, a blockbuster, a leader, a winner...... and these encouragements make me feel warm when I think about it now."
Reporter: I noticed that your Weibo profile is "Mr. Almost Little", why is it called this name?
Yang Xu: Because I participated in activities or competitions before, most of them were quite smooth in the front, and in the final round, they were just a few tenths or even a few tenths of a point away from the first place or the grand prize. was admitted to Shijiazhuang Radio and Television Station that year, and also ranked second with a slight gap.
Reporter: This time it's not bad at all, are you ready to revise the introduction?
Yang Xu (laughs): Not for the time being. In my mind, a good host is always a little worse. At this stage, if you are satisfied with yourself, you must have a new direction and goal. Someone once asked me what was the most satisfying hosting or a film for me? Because every time I do a show, the presentation at that time may not be bad, but after reviewing it, there will definitely be new ideas. From better, it's always a little closer. (Hebei Daily reporter Bai Yun)
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The story behind "nostalgia".
In the first round of the finals of the 2023 Host Contest of China Central Radio and Television, all contestants must fill in the blanks according to the content on the question board and complete 90 seconds of impromptu hosting.
The exam question Yang Xu drew was "Bring it and go". After a short period of thought, he filled in the blank space with "nostalgia" and used a well-layered and fluent presiding speech to improve his ranking from fifth to third.
"The impromptu assessment tests the host's critical thinking ability. The first reaction is what comes to mind, and it is not allowed to be carved repeatedly. Filling in 'nostalgia' is my subconscious homesickness. Yang Xu explained that from 2021, he hosted the Spring Festival Gala of Shijiazhuang Radio and Television Station for 3 consecutive years, and could not accompany his family to eat Chinese New Year's Eve.
The direction is determined, and what content is organized is the greater test.
"I divided this speech into three parts, a 90-second time limit, which can neither be timed out nor wasted. Yang Xu said that in the introduction part, he said: "Carrying a bag on your back, walking through thousands of rivers and mountains, and crossing the sea of people." Get off the plane, the high-speed train, get home, turn on the TV and sit around with the whole family, there must be your favorite dish on the dinner table. ”
In just a few sentences, it portrays the Spring Festival homecoming that many Chinese will experience. This scene, because it is familiar, resonates and awakens the audience's thinking about their favorite dishes. Yang Xu said.
Every player will pay attention to the timer and switch it according to their needs, and Yang Xu is no exception. During the race, he started jumping around 30 seconds, but the switch was very silky. So much so that he did not "reveal the secrets", and the reporters were completely unaware of it while watching the game.
"Time will be homesick, the taste of home, engraved on the taste buds...... It could be scrambled eggs with tomatoes and roasted eggplants made by Mom and Dad, or it could be a bowl of Yangchun noodles cooked by grandparents. These descriptions in the game are also Yang Xu's own experience.
However, the taste of home he misses is the sweet and sour cauliflower made by his grandfather. "Every year on the second day of the new year, when I go to my grandmother's house to pay New Year's greetings, my grandfather will make this dish for me to eat. Yang Xu said that on the first day of the new year in 2021, after the live broadcast on Chinese New Year's Eve, he invited colleagues and classmates who did not go home to eat at home, and reproduced this dish, "Everyone's evaluation is very delicious, but I can't eat the taste of home." ”
Excellent host, business level is the background, accumulation and experience are the difference.
"After walking out of half a life, I found that the end of the road is my hometown. Only by tasting the delicious food in the world can you understand that the taste of the world is homely. This is exactly what Yang Xu felt from eating this sweet and sour cauliflower - you can eat it every New Year, but you just feel ordinary. But when a person is in a foreign land, homesickness will be extremely strong. The dish is still the same dish, but it lacks the taste of home.
"Sweet and sour cauliflower" did not appear in the host speech in the end. "Scrambled eggs with tomatoes and roasted eggplant are representative of the dish, and the content can be continued without deviation. Yang Xu said that the name of the dish is just a carrier, carrying the thoughts that move people's hearts, and if they move him, they will definitely move the audience.
"Only the tip of the tongue, and the heart", is Yang Xu's adaptation of Li Qingzhao's "A Cut of Plums" in such a short period of time.
"Including the taste of the world is homely, and it is also my transformation of 'the taste of the world is refreshing'. Yang Xu hopes that the use of these sentences can promote the progression of the host words layer by layer, and push the nostalgia and homesickness to the hearts of the audience in just 90 seconds.
Text/Hebei Daily reporter Bai Yun