BACKGROUND

GUIDE

INTERNATIONAL
PRESS
 [Link] is Journalism?
[Link] to International Press
[Link] Agencies
[Link] Structure and Composition:
[Link]:
[Link] style & references:
[Link] statements:
[Link] prior to the conference,
practice debates, and awards
[Link] methodology:
[Link]:
CONTENTS

[Link] Remarks: useful tips & links for

further reading
 WHAT IS
JOURNALISM?

Journalism is the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting accurate facts
and information to the general public.

(The American Press Institute) Its purpose is to actively engage in society as a middle
man that bridges the people with governing bodies to enable the Right to Information
among citizens. It helps guide the people in making quintessential decisions that affect
not only themselves but also their community, government, and the nation as a whole.
Journalism and the Media are indispensable and are thereby referred to as the “Fourth
Estate” of the Democratic process as it not only informs and educates the public but
simultaneously acts as a watchdog, enabling a system of checks and balances, keeping
those in authority in line, urging and ensuring accountability.
In the United Nations, journalists collaborate with diplomats and report on the resolutions
adopted and conference proceedings.

Creating the perfect balance is key.

INTRODUCTION

Maybe you’ve always been interested in foreign affairs and international relations but
felt like being a delegate representing a nation wasn’t for you.
Perhaps you have a better knack for expressing your point of view through the written
word. Have you found journalism interesting and never found an outlet to try your hand
at it?
If this sounds like you, the International Press Corps might be for you. Similar to how
delegates representing a country engage in open debate in other committees,
delegates are journalists who represent news agencies.
Our goal is to provide aspiring journalists and budding writers the unique opportunity to
put their skills to good use, in the backdrop of the hustle and bustle of a MUN
conference.

Fake news is cheap to

produce. Genuine journalism
is expensive.
- Similar to how regular delegates are required to adhere to their foreign policy,
IP delegates are required to follow their news agency mandate, style, and
structure, and play the role of a journalist belonging to the respective news
agency.

- An IP delegate representing a news agency (The Guardian/Reuters/Al

Jazeera etc.) will thereby be assigned to one of the following committees that
will be simulated

While IP delegates are required to observe and report council proceedings,

they will also be expected to produce enticing articles full of debate analysis
at a news angle of your choice within the guidelines and alignment of your
news agency’s mandate.

Delegates must take it upon themselves to remain unbiased of their personal

opinions when forming these articles, staying true to their news agency’s
biases.
(i.e.- For example, Al Jazeera journalists will compose their articles in favor of
Middle Eastern nations, Fox News looks into a largely conservative American
audience etc.)

IP delegates are encouraged to engage, interact and interview the delegates

in their committee and compile their article with quotations from committee
proceedings, interviews as well as pictures captured mid-debate. Using
intelligent humor is encouraged to boost readership appeal.
NEWS
AGENCIES

The Guardian
Founded in the May of 1821 by John Edward Taylor, this British newspaper has
served the public for over 197 years. In 1936, 'The Trust' was created to secure
financial and editorial independence of The Guardian in perpetuity and to
safeguard the journalistic freedom, integrity, and liberal values of The Guardian
free from commercial or political interference.

The Guardian’s Article Guide:

[Link]

Reuters
Reuters is an international news agency headquartered in London, United
Kingdom, and also one of the largest in the world. It is a division of Thomson
Reuters. Until 2008, the Reuters news agency was a part of an independent
company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data.

Reuters Handbook of Journalism: [Link]

title=Main_Page

Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera, meaning "The Island", in Arabic, is a media network that has stated
that they are editorially independent of the government of Qatar as the network
is funded through loans and grants rather than government subsidies. Launched
in 1996, Al Jazeera Arabic was the first independent news channel in the Arab
world dedicated to providing comprehensive news and live debate.

Journalists of Al Jazeera are expected to follow this:

[Link]
 The New York Times
Nicknamed "The Grey Lady”, the New York Times has long been regarded
within the industry as a national "newspaper of record". The paper's motto,
"All the News That's Fit to Print", appears in the upper left-hand corner of
the front page. Founded in 1851, the paper has won 125 Pulitzer Prizes,
more than any other newspaper.

New York Times Guide on Ethics of Journalism:

[Link]

The Daily Mirror

Daily Mirror is a daily English-language newspaper published in Colombo,
Sri Lanka, by Wijeya Newspapers. Its Sunday counterpart is the Sunday
Times. Its sister newspaper on financial issues is the Daily FT.

Refer to the structure, style, and biases of articles by The Daily Mirror by
referring to their website: [Link]
To further gain an understanding of the Daily Mirror’s style, analyze,
compare and contrast with other affiliated contemporary media houses in
Sri Lanka.

MORE EXAMPLES FOR VALID SOURCES ;

PTI
SANSAD
PRESS COUNCIL
LOK SABHA
RAJYA SABHA
PRESS COUNCIL INDIA
LIVE LAW
SUPREME COURT OBSERVER
DD NEWS
PIB
And all the govt. Websites!

Journalism is what we need to make democracy work

ARTICLE STRUCTURE AND
COMPOSITION:
Journalists of the IPC are expected to follow “best practices” & “structures” of journalism to
standardize and take your reporting experience during conference up a notch.

Structure:
1. HEADLINE- The headline is the text indicating the nature of the article below it ,
your headline should be captivating and specific to the article you are composing.

2. BY LINE- Authorship and news agency.

3. SKETCH OR PHOTOGRAPH (OPTIONAL)- Suitable caption should be included.

4. PLACE LINE (OPTIONAL)- Where the story begins.

5. LEAD- Opening section of the article. The Lead should be less than 25 words,
interesting, and convey the most important information. The ideal lead will set the
tone for what follows. Do not try to cram unnecessary information, digress, or
become repetitive. Conciseness and simplicity are key.

6. BODY- This is the main section of the article, containing the whole story and
will elaborate the important information stated in the lead. End it with an
appropriate closing remark & try to instigate a reaction or question from your
reader.
TIPS:
1. Introduce sources such as quotations and statistics to verify accuracy.

2. Ensure a clear explanation of the 5Ws and H (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How).
3. Always report in the third person and in active voice.
4. Note that the above guidelines are blueprint “best practices” journalists are required to

draw from. They may be modified to fit the mandate of the respective news agencies.

5. Normal delegates are not permitted to meddle around with electronic devices during

committee proceedings but IPC delegates can! Use this to your best advantage.
6. Teamwork and spirit: Helping fellow journalists not only makes your conference experience
memorable but may of may not contribute to the final news agency-based group award as
well.

“I don't think a tough question is disrespectful.”

SUBMISSION

Deadlines:
Following deadlines is an important aspect of the press. You will be regularly updated
on the deadlines by the Heads of IPC and the inability to meet them will have a
negative effect on your entire conference experience and final evaluation criterion
for awards.

Articles must be submitted electronically as a Microsoft Word document (.docx) at the

end of
each day of the conference.

Format:
Your articles will be named in the following manner: The name of your article and
then your
name separated by a hyphen followed by the name of the news agency you are in.
i.e: North Korean Forced Labourers in Poland - Deshara Perera (The Guardian)
In interviews, you shall write the designation of the person and council and then your
name for submission. However, your article will have the headline of the most
important quote according to you.

i.e: File submission name - “Interview with Iran (UNHRC) - Deshara Perera”
but the headline might be “We believe in capital punishment.”

Articles cannot be edited after submission, and you will be evaluated by what
you submit.

The font size of the article: Times New Roman, Size 12

Word Count Total : 1500-2000
WRITING STYLE &
REFERENCES:
Please keep the following points in mind while writing your
articles:

1. INVERTED PYRAMID STRUCTURE - News articles are

commonly written in a format known as the “inverted pyramid
structure”. Start with a lead paragraph that conveys the most
essential facts of the story which is then developed into detailed
subsequent paragraphs.

2. EMOTIONS - Do not use feel in context to a delegate’s emotions.

3. RESEARCH - Proper research regarding the topic you report on

can create a powerful article and will ensure the reader you have
adequate knowledge on the issue discussed. Anything you choose
to write on should always be factually coherent. Feel free to add
your own knowledge and readily available information on the
internet or other credible sources to back up your claims.

4. HUMOR - Articles may have an element of humor to them.

Humor makes any text more interesting to read, but more
importantly, showcases the journalist’s skill.

5. COUNTRIES: Use the proper name for all countries on the first
reference and abbreviations on the second.
i.e.- Republic of Korea and Korea

6. DELEGATES: Never refer to delegates by their name. Use

instead, for example, the Delegate of the Republic of Korea on
reference and RoK on the second reference.
7. TITLE: Make sure your article always has a suitable and
appropriate title that captures the main focus of the article.

8. PLAGIARISM AND PROFESSIONALISM: As IPC delegates, you

are to never indulge in plagiarism. Articles that are submitted to
the Editor-in-Chief has to be original. If any acts of plagiarism
are found, the journalist will be suspended immediately. Note
that your eligibility for awards will be disrupted in the case
plagiarism is detected during the marking process.
To be professional means to adhere to all basic ethics and never
let your personal feelings towards any
Delegate/Country/Delegation/Person affect your reports. You
are to remain unbiased and represent the interest of your
assigned media outlet.

9. SMART REPORTING: Do not report the proceedings of your

assigned committee word to word. Pay attention to what happens
in the committee and select one important topic as the center of
your report. Focus on the interesting bits because not everything
has to be reported. Be analytical. Think critically.

10. FLOW: Establishing “flow” is one of the creative areas of

the writing process. Journalists are expected to combine
their research with varied wording and sentencing
structure in order to communicate ideas clearly and further
engage the reader.

11. STYLE AND TONE: Make sure there is a balance between formal
and informal tone. Positive constructions should be used.

12. WORD COUNT: Stick to it.

PRESS STATEMENTS

Typical delegates have Foreign Policy Statements (FPS). IPC delegates have Press
Statements!

The key to writing the ideal press statement or any news article lies with the ability
to grab the reader's attention with a captivating headline and an informative yet
concise lead paragraph.

Press statements will emulate a general news article format, using the inverse
pyramid structure and IPC delegates are to choose one out of other topics chosen by
the Heads of IPC to report on.

Your article should be in line with your news agency’s mandate and biases. Delegates
are expected to refer to the mandate and articles of their relevant news agencies to
get a thorough understanding of their writing style.

Points to keep in mind:

• No personal opinions should be included in your press statement. Opinions of the
respective news agency can be used.
• Journalism, not creative writing: This article should be reported strictly in a factual
sense. Make sure to keep things interesting with sound conduct in language.
However, avoid overusing too many adjectives, flowery words, and euphemisms.
• Always verify the details of your article and crosscheck the facts and statistics
provided
by you in your report.
• Delegates are encouraged to bring their research notes.
• All press statements should be submitted electronically.
PREPARATION PRIOR TO THE
CONFERENCE, PRACTICE DEBATES
AND AWARDS
IPC journalists should thoroughly study the study guide and the mandate of their
respective
committee. You should do thorough research on the Practice Debate and
conference topics and have a good knowledge of your respective news agency.

IPC journalists must bring their own laptop/tablet, pen drive, necessary stationery,
and other
materials you may need. Make sure to inform the Heads of IPC regarding any issues
regarding devices beforehand. Efforts would only be made to attend to the
necessary accordingly. If you wish to take photographs or record videos to support
your written work, you must bring your own equipment to do so.

Please take care of your electronic devices and other valuables, SLCONVENTUS
2022 will not be held liable in the event of damage, loss, or theft.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
The confines of an in-house conference limit us to what we want to call
investigative journalism,
but your preparations will be severe. You can use the following guidelines for
effective research.
You must be adequately prepared to understand the debate.
• Go through the backgrounds for a basic understanding of the agenda and
then the documents
and links it mentions. The background guide can be obtained from the website of
the
conference.
• Read about the agenda and various perspectives on it. Aid and form an opinion.
• Understanding the legal, social, cultural, and economic implications of the
debate.
• Read about the foreign policy and agenda perspective of nations that you might
think will
majorly impact the debate.
• Access the quality of research required through [Link] and see
how the
research and content are balanced.
CLOSING REMARKS: USEFUL TIPS &
LINKS FOR FURTHER READING

In order to maintain the exact freedoms given to reporters, a set of codes and
policies will make it less likely for them to cross this boundary. The code of
ethics outlines your boundaries, within which you should feel comfortable to
work in. Being able to enter and leave the committee at any time is a
privilege, not granted to everyone, and should be respected. Do not disrupt
the flow of any committee for it may cause inconvenience to the delegates
and the Chairs.

TIPS:
• Read other committee background guides before entering the conference, so
as to have a better understanding of their agenda and the politics that will stem
from them.
• Avoid asking yes-or-no questions, as these probably won’t produce very
interesting quotations.
Leave your questions open-ended and give your subject the chance to
explain himself in his own words.
• Keep your sentences concise and informative.
• Accuracy is crucial. Facts, Quotes, and Names must be double-checked.
• Reporters are advised to read news articles in order to get a general idea of the
style of writing.
• An article’s introduction may be clever or witty, given that the subject is light-
hearted. However, a more serious subject, that is of ‘breaking news’ character,
should be treated with the same
seriousness; direct and to-the-point.
• Whenever you take interviews or use delegates names in your reports, make
sure the involved
persons are aware of the fact that their names or statements are being used.
• Keep a dictionary at hand.
• Maintain structure in your articles. Use punctuation appropriately and break
your article down into concise paragraphs.
• Know your audience and write accordingly.
ABBREVIATIONS: No periods should be used separating letters of an abbreviated
organization or agency. Only standard acronyms and approved abbreviations
should be used.
(i.e: SLCONVENTUS, UNSC, UNHRC, UNICEF, SOCHUM, WHO, NATO, ICJ, USSR,
UK, USA)

CURRENCY: Dollar values are displayed with the appropriate currency symbol.
Values on orders at or greater than one million are summarized, for example,
$54,000, $135,000, or $214 million. Sri Lankan Rupees shall be written as LKR and
not Rs. 18

BOOKS AND PRINT SOURCES: Names of all books and print sources should be
capitalized and italicized, such as The Newsletter, The New York Times, and The
Economist.

DEVELOPING NATIONS: Within the international community, the use of the term
“third world” is
actively discouraged. No nation will be referred to as “Third World.”

NAMES: Verbal verification is mandatory on all named sources. Naturally, all proper
names are
Capitalized.
NUMERALS: Any numeral ten or less should be spelled out in English. Numerals
over ten are reported using standard Arabic numerals, such as 2001.

QUOTATIONS: All quoted statements within articles should be incorporated

grammatically into the sentence being written. Additional capitalizations should be
avoided. If only part of a sentence is being used in a quotation, an ellipsis (i.e.: ...)
should be used to indicate the omitted portions of the statement. If the ellipsis
comes at the end of a sentence, it should have a period in the end as well within the
quotation marks (....”) to indicate the conclusion of a sentence.
If within a quotation, the speaker uses an abbreviation or reference which would
be unclear to the reader, the Reporter may interject a clarification within
brackets (i.e.: [...]). This indicates that the bracketed information is not a direct
quotation; rather it is a clarification on the part of the author.

As an illustration of these rules, consider the following example:

Amb. Deshara explained that “...while the matters are being studied by the UN,
there is a commitment by the UN, such as the UNV [United Nations
Volunteers], to take part in conflict zones.”
SPELLING: Reporters should be sure to spell-check all
articles before the editorial deadline. This will greatly
assist the Editor.

UN TITLES: These titles are not be abbreviated. UN and

SLCONVENTUS official titles include Secretary-
General, Under- Secretary-General, Director, Head/s
of (xyz). Secretary- General shall never be abbreviated
as Sec Gen.
RESOURCE LINKS FOR FURTHER READING
For a glossary of Journalist terms:
[Link]
To understand the expected standard of integrity and
ethics: [Link]
For an in-depth analysis of the expected reporting style:
[Link] pyramid/
More information on the IPC Committee:
[Link]
corps-committees/
To brush up your knowledge on MUN proceedings: How
To Model United Nations by Pulse
[Link]
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD Dear Delegates,
I am honoured to welcome you to the International Press Corps!
We welcome you to a committee that can singlehandedly change perspectives
on any situation in any country in the world. It is easier to voice opinions on
international affairs, but to report such events with extreme caution and
sophistication is one of the most cogent yet delicate duties of the International
Press.

This year, the International Press strives to continue the legacy of professional
reporting at MUN. Delegates will have the onus to journalistically critique
committees by examining any controversial or otherwise noteworthy events and
creating informative articles for the benefit of public opinion. As the only body
capable of monitoring all activities, IPC delegates should be able to note the
developments and setbacks faced while seeking to establish solutions to the
world’s most pressing issues. This permits them the freedom to either support
or critique actions pertaining to any agenda that is being discussed.
This briefing includes details to prepare you to transform into some of the
leading news agencies in the world, including the background and current
functioning of your organisations. Please note that this guide only provides the
introduction to your role as a reporter. It is your duty to educate yourself
however with the history of the news agency and its opinions and relative bias
on major international affairs in the past and present. This should be a blueprint
for the manner in which you, as a representative of the agency, will approach
the topics covered in your designated committees.

I encourage you to familiarise yourself with your committee agendas first and
then study your news outlet with regard to it. Please remember that both
members of a delegation need to be well versed and ready to cover all stories,
and this could include events outside the committees as well.
We hope that delegates are expecting a high-paced, interactive conference as
they attempt to steer through speeches and concepts from a variety of
discussions and eventually create their unique arguments on international
affairs. If you have any questions at all, I would be happy to help. The Executive
Board of the International Press Corps along with the MUN
Secretariat look forward to seeing you at the conference!
Regards,

KUNAL VERMA,
INTERNATIONAL PRESS.
+91 9118111544