Ip Guide

INTRODUCTION:
At Model UN, the International Press is a ‘modular’ press which exists at the real UN
conferences. Our duty is to cover the entire conference and issue a newsletter at the
end of each day of the conference. Instead of representing the interests of a single
country, the International Press allows participants to act as unbiased reporters or
caricaturists reporting on the proceedings of each simulation in the Conference via
different mediums
Structure of Press
• Composition of Press: The International Press consists of Journalists, Caricaturists
and Photographers. The participants shall be allotted committees to cover during the
course of the conference.
• Newsletter: A newsletter by definition, is a written report, issued periodically,
typically by an organization, which presents information and news to people with a
specific interest in the organization or subject.
JOURNALISM BACKGROUND GUIDE

Basic Task
As a reporter in the International Press, it becomes absolutely necessary for one to
make sure to adhere to honesty at all times, because honesty continues to be the
very essence of their job. Research is the most important thing when it comes to
being a part of IP. The background guides are never enough, always widening your
scope of information about the committees and agendas. It is imperative that they
realize their importance at a time where people in power think that they can avoid
accountability. Journalists are to make sure they never stop thinking and questioning.
They are required to observe and report council proceedings and produce enticing
articles that include debate analysis at a news angle of choice in regards to the
agenda of the committee allotted. One must remain as unbiased of their personal
opinions as possible. You are encouraged to engage, interact and interview the
delegates in your committee and compile their article with quotations from
committee proceedings as well as interviews. Working on deadlines is the most
significant part of their job. Enjoy writing. There’s beauty in the role of a reporter, in
making plenipotentiaries responsible for their words and in being the voice of the
unrepresented.
TYPES OF ARTICLES:
Report:
A report is a summary of events that have taken place in the committee. It is
however important to note, that what we need out of you is quality content that has
been discussed in the committee and not Rules of Procedures. Like any other type of
article, you must give this a heading.
This type of article is strictly formal, neutral, and concise, explaining the happenings
of a committee without personal bias, and journalists have to ensure that they cover
the event in its entirety. It must include facts, reports, statistics, and quotations.
Remember, that there is a very fine line between fact and opinion.
Beat-based:
A beat-based article is one that is written in circumstances where the committee has
innumerable discussions ongoing, which are difficult to report in a limited set of
words. This is a newspaper style article, extremely formal and must be written
carefully. Each session at a MUN conference has several important discussions and
numerous caucuses. A beat captures the essence of one such discussion/caucus,
talking in detail about what the discussion was.
The first step would be to choose your beat. Beat preferably should be a quote, but
can also be a topic. The entire article will be based on this quote or topic. This is how
a beat- based article is a little different than a simple report. A simple report is where
you are required to write everything that takes place during a particular session, as it
is. However, a beat-based article is based on a specific topic that was discussed, that
you wish to create emphasis on. In both Reports and Beats, personal bias is not
permitted and factual information or quote by a delegate has to be verified before
being written about.
Opinion-editorial:
The name explains it all. While writing this type of article, you can express your
opinions freely, while still being formal at all costs. However, make sure that your
view is backed by relevant and concrete data, proofs and statistics. Further, your
articulation needs to be such that your point is put forward clearly. Remember, we’re
not looking for an essay, which is somewhat holistic and neutral in its approach-
we’re looking at an article that puts down your thoughts clearly, taking sides, for
your opinion cannot be neutral.
Constructive Criticism is of key here, i.e. putting out criticism in a manner that puts
forward your thoughts clearly without hurting the sentiments of a Member Nation
and helps them work on the said points. It is also advised to limit the use of personal
pronouns while stating opinions. (Put it this way- The International Press/World
Press believes …..)
Feature:
This is an informal article which calls for your creative side. The journalist has to play
with the words as much as he/she wants to convey their emotions through a poem,
diary entry, open- letter etc. For example, in a committee debating about the Syrian
crisis, the journalist could write a feature from the point of view of the Syrian
refugees, children, etc.- the possibilities are endless.
They deal with subjects in-depth and go beyond news coverage. They give the reader
a chance to more fully understand some interesting dimensions of a subject and are
hence very different from a hard news story. This isn’t a committee- based task, but
an agenda based one. It is also opinionated to a certain level.
Interview Report:
Model UN Conferences allow journalists to conduct interviews. These interviews may
take place with the consent of the individual in question. Since this will be a form of
personal interaction – it is important to ask permission before printing anything
discussed in the interview. While professional interviews extend to all participants
and members of the Executive Board, we urge you to also hold informal interviews
which may include satire if need be.
A “source” – anyone a journalist interviews - can provide elements that are vital to
any news story basic factual information, perspective and context on the topic being
discussed, direct quotes, ideas on how to approach the story or names and contact
information of other people to interview.
CARICATURISTS BACKGROUND GUIDE
The Role of a Caricaturist:
Caricaturists play a pivotal role in shaping public opinions; they mould people’s
perceptions. Their art has the power to both promote peace and understanding and
provoke anger and intolerance. In the busy world that we are living in today,
caricatures play an extremely important role. Caricatures make the news more
appealing and are the representations of a wide and serious subject in an
exaggerated and humorous manner. Over the course of the conference, the
caricaturists are expected to make caricatures based on their observations. They may
use metaphors, symbols, expressions or caricatures to make their cartoons more
intriguing.
Things to remember:
 Research well!
 Having an in-depth knowledge about the agenda broadens your point of view
and helps your illustrations to mirror your thought process.
 The cartoons should not be highly political, and should not be hateful towards
to a particular race, gender, religion, caste, etc.
Interpretation and Analogy:

You are free to collaborate with your co-International Press members to develop a
combined perspective and then use analogies to portray your stance.
PHOTOGRAPHY BACKGROUND GUIDE
A few basics:
• Exposure is the basic element of any photograph taken and recorded. Exposure is
how much light your shot was exposed to and this reflects on what is produced in
your final image. Exposure is determined by three essential elements which we will
look at individually here.
• Aperture is the setting that controls the size of the opening of light that comes
through to the lens. Set aperture according to the requirement. The more you open
the aperture, the sharper Picture you get.
• Shutter Speed is simply the amount of time that the camera lets the light come in,
stay exposed and become recorded.
Things to remember:
• Focus- Photographs clicked must be in focus. Sometimes, the main part of the
picture gets blurred while the background is entirely in focus; this turns out to
become a distraction and makes the picture less appealing.
• Lighting- Photographs clicked should be perfectly exposed. Underexposure or
overexposure ruins the image due to either less light or more light than required.
• Framing and Alignment- While clicking makes sure that the photograph has a full
frame, i.e. there should be no part of the object/body part that is partially or entirely
cut off.
Guidelines:
• All photographs must follow the rules of composition, wherever possible.
• Photographs must not be clicked in Sepia or Monochrome unless it’s specified.
• Minimum photo editing is allowed.

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INTRODUCTION:

JOURNALISM BACKGROUND GUIDE

Interpretation and Analogy:

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