Return To: The 2019 AMUN Handbook
The 2019 AMUN Handbook The International Press Delegation
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The International Press Delegation (IPD) is a unique simulation that allows students to fill the role of reporters as they work to produce AMUN’s Conference newspaper, the AMUN Chronicle, and keep participants informed about the functions of the United Nations.
While at AMUN, the International Press Delegation is reflective of the work of hundreds of reporters from news agencies around the world. Even though IPD does not exist at the United Nations in New York, there are reporters, who cover the work of the United Nations, publishing essays, opinion pieces, articles and videos on the debates and activities of the United Nations, which reach people around the world. By doing so, the members of the International Press Corps assist the United Nations in fulfilling one of its fundamental objectives: the dissemination of information about the United Nations and world events to all people.
Recognizing the critical role the press plays at the United Nations, AMUN’s IPD simulation has three major goals
- To expand the educational experience for students with an interest or background in strategic communications and journalism by simulating the public affairs environment at the United Nations.
- To keep all AMUN participants informed about newsworthy events from each simulation with social media and a high-quality newspaper (the AMUN Chronicle) each day of Conference.
- To provide representatives the opportunity to present their country’s positions through press releases and press conferences and to gain familiarity with the challenges of strategic communications.
AMUN Secretariat Members will serve in the following roles:
- The Director of the International Press Delegation, who is responsible for overseeing all IPD activities and for the content of the published AMUN Chronicle.
- The Publisher, who is responsible for taking the articles and laying them out into the template for the AMUN Chronicle.
- Editors who are responsible for helping reporters plan each issue of the AMUN Chronicle and write their articles, lead press conferences, assist representatives with submitting press releases and press conference requests, and manage IPD’s social media networks.
What do IPD Reporters do? What do IPD Reporters do?
Participants will be issued specific press credentials that will identify them as IPD reporters to the AMUN Secretariat and representatives. Each IPD reporter will be assigned to at least one beat, which is a specific simulation (e.g., Security Council, ICJ, General Assembly Third Committee) that they will have primary responsibility for reporting on throughout the Conference. Reporters are assigned to beats to ensure consistent and thorough reporting of how each committee functions. All IPD reporters will submit content covering their assigned beats for each issue of the AMUN Chronicle.
Reporter content will include a short ticker story for their beat and, depending on the newsworthy events in a simulation, reporters may also submit a committee feature (100-125 words) or a general feature (200 words). Reporters will create their own content, review their peer’s content and assist with the production and distribution of the paper as needed. Additionally, reporters will be asked to schedule tweets via the @AmunIPD Twitter handle and be assigned to cover press conferences and other Conference events, such as interviews with guest speakers.
Ticker stories will offer brief coverage of high-level events in a simulation. Each simulation should have a ticker story in every edition of the AMUN Chronicle. Tickers should be no more than 50 words and must be tightly constructed and edited to briefly convey the main point. A ticker story for General Assembly Second Committee might read as follows:
Although GA 2nd continues debate concerning revised guidelines for alleviating sovereign debt crises, several representatives from Latin America seek more impactful regulation to mitigate capital flows to violent extremists.
General features will cover the primary, newsworthy events that occurred on a reporter’s beat. When drafting features, reporters should investigate the motivations for and representatives involved in the notable event. By conducting thorough interviews and seeking accurate primary and secondary sources, features can clarify the various activities of the United Nations. Reporters are advised to build in-depth relationships with representatives on their beat. Reporters should strive to feature two to three quotations from different representatives. To assist in planning and drafting articles, fellow reporters and editors will provide feedback on reporters’ content.
The content of each edition of the AMUN Chronicle is set in a budget meeting that reporters attend in their assigned work space. At each budget meeting, in consultation with IPD Secretariat staff, reporters assess the type and length of article(s) they will draft for the next edition of the AMUN Chronicle. Reporters’ content will be published to all participants at Conference; therefore accurate reporting is critical to ensure unbiased information is disseminated.
Publishing the AMUN Chronicle Publishing the AMUN Chronicle
Reporters are allotted at least two and half hours to draft, edit and submit content for each edition of the AMUN Chronicle. An example of how time is allocated is provided below. This example timeline is based on the production schedule for the Sunday evening Chronicle, usually the third issue of the Conference.
- 5:30 p.m. Reporters will submit a word-processed, preliminary copy of content (including tickers, features and tweets as needed) for the third issue.
- 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Reporters receive edits from peers and editors, investigate his or her beat in anticipation of their articles for the fourth issue, and revise content.
- 8:00 p.m. Reporters submit final copy of content and attend the budget meeting to discuss their assignment with AMUN Secretariat for the fourth issue, share ideas for feature articles and review notable events on their beats.
- 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. IPD Secretariat will commence final review of content and Publisher will lay out copy of the AMUN Chronicle for duplication by Delegate Services.
- 9:45 p.m. Once duplication has been completed, IPD personnel and any other available Secretariat members will collate and distribute the Chronicle.
Joining the International Press Delegation Joining the International Press Delegation
Any interested student can join the IPD. However, IPD reporters cannot also be members of their school’s delegation(s). In other words, participation in the IPD as a reporter is a mutually exclusive, duration-of-the-Conference assignment. Up to two students from any school may become IPD reporters. Students from schools that are not sending a delegation to AMUN are also welcome to apply to participate in the IPD. Students not attending with a school delegation must pay only the AMUN delegate fee.
Due to the resource-intensive and specialized nature of this simulation, AMUN will accept up to 14 IPD reporters. Positions will go to applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. The application is available on the AMUN website; please contact the AMUN Executive Office (mail@amun.org) for more information. For the best chance of being accepted as a reporter, apply by mid-October.
IPD will also accept qualified applications to fill one position as a photojournalist. This position will be evaluated based on the applicant’s background and experience in photography. Applicants may apply for a reporter position as well as the photojournalist position.
Pre-Conference Preparation Pre-Conference Preparation
To prepare for conference, reporters will be provided with an IPD Procedures and Style Guide. The guide will include sample interview questions, sample tweets, committee hashtags and guidelines for journalistic writing (e.g. “the 5 W’s & H,” the Inverted Pyramid, beat reporting and tips on brevity). In advance of conference, reporters will submit a draft article in accordance with the IPD Procedures and Style Guide. The due date and subject of the articles will be provided in the IPD welcome letter that reporters will receive between late-October and early-November. At conference, AMUN Secretariat will provide feedback and training before publishing the revised copies in the AMUN Chronicle.
Connect with IPD at Conference Connect with IPD at Conference
All AMUN representatives and delegations are encouraged to explore the news-coverage possibilities offered by the IPD. In particular, representatives should get to know the reporter(s) covering their simulations, make themselves available for interviews and provide background information when it is requested or when it is in their country’s interest to seek press coverage. Also, representatives and delegations are strongly encouraged to call press conferences and to submit press releases, personal ads and letters to the editor.
Press conferences allow representatives a chance to give an oral statement and to answer questions from reporters and other conference participants. Representatives request press conferences using the IPD Request Form. They are asked to provide three specific pieces of information: (1) the requested time for the press conference, (2) the first and last names and countries of the participating representatives and (3) the topic(s) that will be discussed. Representatives have a maximum of 20 minutes to complete the press conference, including the question-and-answer session. Time slots are made available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Press Releases are official statements from a representative’s country that explain a country’s stance on one of the topics under debate at AMUN. Press releases are a maximum of 150 words and are included in every edition of the AMUN Chronicle, contingent upon available space. Press releases must be typed and submitted in the IPD Office. Press releases are edited by IPD Secretariat members for content and clarity.
Personal Ads are informal messages that can be submitted by any individual attending the AMUN Conference. Personal ads must be no longer than 30 words and are included in the AMUN Chronicle contingent upon available space. Personal ads must be submitted in writing (forms are available at the documents table in each simulation) or emailed to personals@amun.org after the Opening Plenary Session has ended.
Letters to the Editor may be submitted by any attendee and can be on any topic germane to the Conference. Letters to the editor are limited to 250 words. Letters to the editor must be typed and submitted in the IPD Office.
Social Media offers an opportunity to concisely communicate a country’s position in a more interactive manner. All IPD reporters will have the ability to tweet newsworthy updates via the AMUN official Twitter account. Each committee will have a designated hashtag, so all representatives can participate in the online conversation by commenting on AMUN’s official Twitter account, @AmunIPD.
The decision to include material submitted to the IPD office in the AMUN Chronicle is left to the discretion of the Director of the IPD and the AMUN Executive Committee. AMUN Secretariat will screen and edit all content submitted to the IPD for clarity and adherence to rules for diplomatic courtesy.
Topics
The International Press Delegation (IPD) is a unique simulation that allows students to fill the role of reporters as they work to produce AMUN’s Conference newspaper, the AMUN Chronicle, and keep participants informed about the functions of the United Nations.
While at AMUN, the International Press Delegation is reflective of the work of hundreds of reporters from news agencies around the world. Even though IPD does not exist at the United Nations in New York, there are reporters, who cover the work of the United Nations, publishing essays, opinion pieces, articles and videos on the debates and activities of the United Nations, which reach people around the world. By doing so, the members of the International Press Corps assist the United Nations in fulfilling one of its fundamental objectives: the dissemination of information about the United Nations and world events to all people.
Recognizing the critical role the press plays at the United Nations, AMUN’s IPD simulation has three major goals
- To expand the educational experience for students with an interest or background in strategic communications and journalism by simulating the public affairs environment at the United Nations.
- To keep all AMUN participants informed about newsworthy events from each simulation with social media and a high-quality newspaper (the AMUN Chronicle) each day of Conference.
- To provide representatives the opportunity to present their country’s positions through press releases and press conferences and to gain familiarity with the challenges of strategic communications.
AMUN Secretariat Members will serve in the following roles:
- The Director of the International Press Delegation, who is responsible for overseeing all IPD activities and for the content of the published AMUN Chronicle.
- The Publisher, who is responsible for taking the articles and laying them out into the template for the AMUN Chronicle.
- Editors who are responsible for helping reporters plan each issue of the AMUN Chronicle and write their articles, lead press conferences, assist representatives with submitting press releases and press conference requests, and manage IPD’s social media networks.
What do IPD Reporters do? What do IPD Reporters do?
Participants will be issued specific press credentials that will identify them as IPD reporters to the AMUN Secretariat and representatives. Each IPD reporter will be assigned to at least one beat, which is a specific simulation (e.g., Security Council, ICJ, General Assembly Third Committee) that they will have primary responsibility for reporting on throughout the Conference. Reporters are assigned to beats to ensure consistent and thorough reporting of how each committee functions. All IPD reporters will submit content covering their assigned beats for each issue of the AMUN Chronicle.
Reporter content will include a short ticker story for their beat and, depending on the newsworthy events in a simulation, reporters may also submit a committee feature (100-125 words) or a general feature (200 words). Reporters will create their own content, review their peer’s content and assist with the production and distribution of the paper as needed. Additionally, reporters will be asked to schedule tweets via the @AmunIPD Twitter handle and be assigned to cover press conferences and other Conference events, such as interviews with guest speakers.
Ticker stories will offer brief coverage of high-level events in a simulation. Each simulation should have a ticker story in every edition of the AMUN Chronicle. Tickers should be no more than 50 words and must be tightly constructed and edited to briefly convey the main point. A ticker story for General Assembly Second Committee might read as follows:
Although GA 2nd continues debate concerning revised guidelines for alleviating sovereign debt crises, several representatives from Latin America seek more impactful regulation to mitigate capital flows to violent extremists.
General features will cover the primary, newsworthy events that occurred on a reporter’s beat. When drafting features, reporters should investigate the motivations for and representatives involved in the notable event. By conducting thorough interviews and seeking accurate primary and secondary sources, features can clarify the various activities of the United Nations. Reporters are advised to build in-depth relationships with representatives on their beat. Reporters should strive to feature two to three quotations from different representatives. To assist in planning and drafting articles, fellow reporters and editors will provide feedback on reporters’ content.
The content of each edition of the AMUN Chronicle is set in a budget meeting that reporters attend in their assigned work space. At each budget meeting, in consultation with IPD Secretariat staff, reporters assess the type and length of article(s) they will draft for the next edition of the AMUN Chronicle. Reporters’ content will be published to all participants at Conference; therefore accurate reporting is critical to ensure unbiased information is disseminated.
Publishing the AMUN Chronicle Publishing the AMUN Chronicle
Reporters are allotted at least two and half hours to draft, edit and submit content for each edition of the AMUN Chronicle. An example of how time is allocated is provided below. This example timeline is based on the production schedule for the Sunday evening Chronicle, usually the third issue of the Conference.
- 5:30 p.m. Reporters will submit a word-processed, preliminary copy of content (including tickers, features and tweets as needed) for the third issue.
- 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Reporters receive edits from peers and editors, investigate his or her beat in anticipation of their articles for the fourth issue, and revise content.
- 8:00 p.m. Reporters submit final copy of content and attend the budget meeting to discuss their assignment with AMUN Secretariat for the fourth issue, share ideas for feature articles and review notable events on their beats.
- 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. IPD Secretariat will commence final review of content and Publisher will lay out copy of the AMUN Chronicle for duplication by Delegate Services.
- 9:45 p.m. Once duplication has been completed, IPD personnel and any other available Secretariat members will collate and distribute the Chronicle.
Joining the International Press Delegation Joining the International Press Delegation
Any interested student can join the IPD. However, IPD reporters cannot also be members of their school’s delegation(s). In other words, participation in the IPD as a reporter is a mutually exclusive, duration-of-the-Conference assignment. Up to two students from any school may become IPD reporters. Students from schools that are not sending a delegation to AMUN are also welcome to apply to participate in the IPD. Students not attending with a school delegation must pay only the AMUN delegate fee.
Due to the resource-intensive and specialized nature of this simulation, AMUN will accept up to 14 IPD reporters. Positions will go to applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. The application is available on the AMUN website; please contact the AMUN Executive Office (mail@amun.org) for more information. For the best chance of being accepted as a reporter, apply by mid-October.
IPD will also accept qualified applications to fill one position as a photojournalist. This position will be evaluated based on the applicant’s background and experience in photography. Applicants may apply for a reporter position as well as the photojournalist position.
Pre-Conference Preparation Pre-Conference Preparation
To prepare for conference, reporters will be provided with an IPD Procedures and Style Guide. The guide will include sample interview questions, sample tweets, committee hashtags and guidelines for journalistic writing (e.g. “the 5 W’s & H,” the Inverted Pyramid, beat reporting and tips on brevity). In advance of conference, reporters will submit a draft article in accordance with the IPD Procedures and Style Guide. The due date and subject of the articles will be provided in the IPD welcome letter that reporters will receive between late-October and early-November. At conference, AMUN Secretariat will provide feedback and training before publishing the revised copies in the AMUN Chronicle.
Connect with IPD at Conference Connect with IPD at Conference
All AMUN representatives and delegations are encouraged to explore the news-coverage possibilities offered by the IPD. In particular, representatives should get to know the reporter(s) covering their simulations, make themselves available for interviews and provide background information when it is requested or when it is in their country’s interest to seek press coverage. Also, representatives and delegations are strongly encouraged to call press conferences and to submit press releases, personal ads and letters to the editor.
Press conferences allow representatives a chance to give an oral statement and to answer questions from reporters and other conference participants. Representatives request press conferences using the IPD Request Form. They are asked to provide three specific pieces of information: (1) the requested time for the press conference, (2) the first and last names and countries of the participating representatives and (3) the topic(s) that will be discussed. Representatives have a maximum of 20 minutes to complete the press conference, including the question-and-answer session. Time slots are made available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Press Releases are official statements from a representative’s country that explain a country’s stance on one of the topics under debate at AMUN. Press releases are a maximum of 150 words and are included in every edition of the AMUN Chronicle, contingent upon available space. Press releases must be typed and submitted in the IPD Office. Press releases are edited by IPD Secretariat members for content and clarity.
Personal Ads are informal messages that can be submitted by any individual attending the AMUN Conference. Personal ads must be no longer than 30 words and are included in the AMUN Chronicle contingent upon available space. Personal ads must be submitted in writing (forms are available at the documents table in each simulation) or emailed to personals@amun.org after the Opening Plenary Session has ended.
Letters to the Editor may be submitted by any attendee and can be on any topic germane to the Conference. Letters to the editor are limited to 250 words. Letters to the editor must be typed and submitted in the IPD Office.
Social Media offers an opportunity to concisely communicate a country’s position in a more interactive manner. All IPD reporters will have the ability to tweet newsworthy updates via the AMUN official Twitter account. Each committee will have a designated hashtag, so all representatives can participate in the online conversation by commenting on AMUN’s official Twitter account, @AmunIPD.
The decision to include material submitted to the IPD office in the AMUN Chronicle is left to the discretion of the Director of the IPD and the AMUN Executive Committee. AMUN Secretariat will screen and edit all content submitted to the IPD for clarity and adherence to rules for diplomatic courtesy.