Zhao Zhongxiang

Zhao Zhongxiang was born on January 16, 1942, in Hebei, China. His father had studied in Japan, and his mother was from Suzhou. He moved to Nanjing with his family when he was young. He joined China Central Television in 1959, and became one of the first news anchors on the national news program Xinwen Lianbo. He was known for his clear and authoritative voice, and his professional and charismatic style. He also hosted many other programs, such as Animal World, Human and Nature, and the CCTV New Year's Gala. He was interested in environmental issues, such as the protection of endangered animals and the reduction of noise pollution. He also wrote books, articles, poems and songs, and used various pseudonyms. He was widely regarded as the "Godfather of Chinese media" and a cultural icon of China. He was also a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference for three terms, and a member of several academic and social organizations. He died of a heart attack on January 16, 2020, his 78th birthday, in Beijing.