International Press Handbook for MUNAH

INTERNATIONAL PRESS HANDBOOK MUN AT HOME, 2020 Greetings reporters! We welcome you to the International Press Corps for MUNAH! We want to make sure that this is an experience where you will be able to learn everything about the workings of the International Press. Trust us, you’re going to love being a reporter. We also expect you to be in

touch with your fellow reporters so that there is mutual understanding among all the reporters. That being said, please do go through this handbook and try to understand whatever is written. Don’t worry if you don’t understand some parts of it, we will make it clear to you during the ROP briefing. Don’t forget that as we are in a simulation of the United Nations, a certain amount of diplomacy is expected from you in your reports and press conferences. All in all, just remember that, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any doubts. All the Best reporters! Cheers and happy research, P Shreyas Manu, International Press Chief.

OVERVIEW The International Press isn’t actually a traditional part of the United Nations. It had been introduced in Model United Nations as a method to encourage writers and aspiring journalists to speak out their minds. The reporter is the only connection between the happenings of the proceedings, and the outside world. The reporter undertakes the mammoth task of preparing reports which capture the essence of the committee, so that the people outside the committee can read and know about it. Reporters are highly encouraged to report the noteworthy things in their respective committees. Frivolous reporting like reports on the shabbiness of a delegate’s appearance, etc. will be looked down upon. A good report comprises of a good amount of research, wittiness and rhetoric. To be a perfect reporter, there a few things to take care of, they being: Research: A reporter’s research is one of the most important parts of reporting. A reporter is expected to have more research than anyone else in the committee, including the Executive Board members. Reporters need to stick to only reliable sources of research, such as Reuters and UN reports. It is often observed that the reporter with the best research has the best articles. If you want to be that reporter, well, start researching immediately. Mutual Cooperation: A reporter needs to understand the importance of mutual cooperation. You need to able to cooperate with your fellow reporters as well as the delegates in your committees. Every reporter is expected to build a rapport with their fellow reporters.

Diplomacy: Every reporter is expected to maintain a certain level of diplomacy in their reports. Reports with more rhetoric are also appreciated. Reporters are not allowed to use any derogatory language in their reports, and reports found with such foul-mouthed language will not be considered. Enthusiasm: The last trait required is enthusiasm! Be enthusiastic in committee. Be enthusiastic about learning. What more can we say? These are the traits of a good reporter. The different types of reports included in this conference: Beat- based Articles: A beat is the basic form of reporting. A beat based article is a verifiable article specifying an argument of a specific part of the plan. The journalist's spotlight ought not to be putting in random facts, but instead, it ought to be on relaying the noteworthy things in the committee. One will have the option to recognize the beat of the day's conversation just through careful observation and consideration; henceforth it is essential for the reporters to be present, mentally and genuinely, during every single proper meeting. Incorporate the same number of verifiable details and cites as could reasonably be expected, inside the setting of the article and the plan, as facts help users comprehend your work better. Make it expressive, not a monotonous boring account. General Report: A general report is a basic recount of the events of the day. A general report contains any noteworthy incident which had happened in the committee. A general report is often considered as one of the easiest forms of writing. Other than recounting the events

of the day, the reporter can also add their inputs based on the speeches of delegates in it. Opinionated Poll: An opinionated poll is usually the easiest article for a reporter. In an opinionated Poll, you would be asking for the opinion of the entire committee with regard to any one topic, and compile that opinion in the form of different visual aids. Opinion Editorial: An opinion editorial, like the name suggests, is a report which is centered on the views of the reporter. Opinion Editorials are needed to be supported with verifiable evidence. If a reporter is making a claim in their Opinion Editorial, there needs to be substantial data backing it. Opinion Editorials are a highly regarded form of writing, and they help express the views of the reporter with regard to a particular issue. Feature writing: A feature is an article where you endow as much creativity as you can muster in your writing. A feature can be anything related wholly, or vaguely to the topic. Different examples of features are poems, short stories, diary entries, etc. Reporters can write anything they want to in their feature, provided it retains a link to their committee’s agenda and is composed of only civil language. Interview: An interview, like the name suggests, will basically be a report where the reporter reports an interview between the reporter and a delegate. Interviews need to be quoted exactly, and are expected in active voice. Press Conference Report: A press conference report is a report of the proceedings of the press conference. Press conference reports are always written in passive voice.

Word limit for the Articles: Reporters are advised to stick to the word limit. However, reporters may write shorter articles than the word limit specifies. We won’t be looking for articles comprising of several pages. Beat: 350- 500 Words Interview: 200- 400 Words (Limit yourself to a maximum of 5 or 6 questions) Opinion Editorial: 400- 600 Words Feature: Anywhere between 200 and 1000 Words. Press Conference Report: 250- 350 Words General Report: 250- 500 Words Formatting Style to be followed: The entire report must be written using Times New Roman. Title- Size: 20, Bold. By liners- Size: 14.5, Italicized. Main Content- Size: 12, Normal. Daily Minimums for reporting:

If it is one thing we do not like, it is lack of punctuality. All reporters are expected to submit their given work by the specified time. If you aren’t able to do so, marks will be deducted for the same except in the case of the reporter having informed us prior to the given time. “Reporting is the pursuit of simple truth. Like many technical challenges, the underlying complexity can be daunting.” – Gideon Rasmussen All the best reporters and happy research!