CRI听力:John Bailey - Reporting from Beijing

A well-known face on the news in South Africa, John Bailey reports from Beijing, a hotbed of international events.

As CRI's Daniel Holmes reports, Bailey, as a foreign correspondent, always has a tight schedule.

"So I'm John Bailey. I'm a South African journalist. I've been based here permanently for the past 6 years."

It was April 30th, 2014. It's the day designated for South African expats to vote in the country's general election.

On that day, John Bailey came to the South African embassy in Beijing with his crew. He is delving into the heart of a news story as expats vote in the elections here.

"Twenty years of democracy in South Africa. That's what we are celebrating this year."

According to John, it's sometimes not easy for foreign journalists in Beijing.

"As a South African journalist being out here, you can go and contact ministers at their offices anytime. You can get responses. Here you almost do not get a response. It takes much longer."

But it's not just South Africa based stories that dominate John's busy days, while featuring himself heavily as an African expert. So, after reporting from the Embassy, he hops in a cab to the other side of Beijing to make a fleeting appearance on a radio show.

"HOST: With us in the studio here in Beijing, we have John Bailey. Beijing's bureau chief for South Africa's ETV."

It's been announced that Nigeria has replaced South Africa as Africa's number one economy, and as an expert on the continent in question, John has been invited to give his opinion on why this is important.

"John: Of course it has really been to the benefit of Nigeria that they have kept the figures so low because that resulted in more aid and more international donations coming to the country and for these NGO's as well.

HOST: OK. Thank you very much. Thank you to John Bailey. "

But it doesn't end there! John now has to rush back to his office with no time to spare. He has to be live on South Africa's ETV, updating the audience with the latest development on the missing flight MH370.

Taking out his earpiece, John has a sigh of relief, as another workday comes to an end.

For CRI, this is Daniel Holmes.