Chapter 310: Chapter 310: Smiling Angel
Phoebe Lockwood had also written malformed sentences like "was so flattered it reached mother"...
’The author of this romance novel is "Smiling Angel." It couldn’t possibly be that hack Phoebe Lockwood, could it?’
Just as she was puzzling over it, her colleagues, who had been fervently roasting the book, suddenly clammed up and pretended to be busy with their own work.
Phoebe Lockwood, just back from the restroom, saw Claire Sinclair reading the novel she had written. A wave of smugness washed over her as she strode over.
"Claire Sinclair, this is the novel I wrote. I’m already in talks with a production company, you know. Give it a read when you have time. It’s going to be made into a TV series."
Having said her piece, Phoebe Lockwood returned to her seat.
Claire Sinclair was speechless.
’Thank goodness that hack wasn’t here when we were just roasting it. How awkward would that have been?’
’Even though Phoebe Lockwood’s novel seems to have a grammatical error every ten sentences, at least she wrote it herself. As long as she’s not plagiarizing, I can’t really complain.’
’I’ll give it a "proper read" when I have time. It’ll be a fun game of spotting the errors.’
’Still, for a novel of this caliber, would a TV adaptation even get any ratings?’
’If people actually watch something like this, then making money off audiences must be a piece of cake...’
Just as she was lost in thought, Henry Hartwell limped in from outside carrying a stack of documents. He looked bright and cheerful, seemingly in a good mood.
Claire Sinclair’s gaze fell to his foot. ’It’s been so many days,’ she thought. ’Has Teacher Hartwell’s foot still not healed completely?’
Henry Hartwell walked to the center of the office and announced, "Applications for the annual press pass are now open. Anyone who doesn’t have one can apply. The deadline for registration is the 5th. Our newspaper gets one slot each year, but there will be a random assessment before the pass is issued. The content of the assessment is determined by the Ministry of Culture. This is especially important for the rookies—you can only be considered a true journalist once you’ve obtained a press pass."
Phoebe Lockwood couldn’t resist asking, "Don’t you take an exam for a press pass?"
Henry Hartwell patiently explained, "The exam you’re thinking of is called the ’Foundational Knowledge Exam for the Journalism Profession.’ It only tests your academic knowledge and proves you’ve studied the subject. You can’t earn a real press pass through an exam. Only a pass that’s been officially stamped makes you a professional journalist."
’So that’s how it works...’
Claire Sinclair had always assumed you had to take an exam for a press pass, or that you automatically became a journalist after working for a media company long enough. She never imagined that it wasn’t something you test for, but something issued from above.
At this thought, Claire Sinclair voiced a question of her own, "Teacher Hartwell, what’s the difference between a journalist who has a press pass and one who doesn’t?"
Henry Hartwell smiled. "A state-issued press pass acts as an all-access card. You can apply for entry into special places like The Presidential Palace, Quincy Manor, and The Capitol Building. You also get opportunities to attend international cultural events and interview major global figures. Journalists without a pass don’t have these privileges."
’In other words, a press pass means direct access to high-level leaders and the chance to break bigger, more profound news stories!’
Claire Sinclair finally understood. It looked like she had to get that press pass. It was the next step in advancing her career.
She wasn’t the only one; Phoebe Lockwood had also set her sights on the press pass.
’Once I get that press pass, my status will completely change,’ she thought. ’Then, when I want to go to The Presidential Palace, I won’t have to tag along behind my father. I can go in on my own!’
’I have to get my hands on such a prestigious pass!’
Thrilled by the thought of this special honor, Phoebe Lockwood looked up and asked, "Editor Hartwell, besides Claire Sinclair and me, is there anyone else at the paper who doesn’t have a press pass?"
