IPG Preparation

First thing to do when you’re a member of the IPG – don’t panic.

However, do expect your journalistic skills and multi-tasking abilities to be challenged at BrizMUN – you’ll have to to take notes from conference proceedings, interview its participants, bang out a 700-word article, as well as blog and post mini-updates from time to time – but it’s marvellous training for all you future journalists, who have to contend with challenges the previous generation may have never even dreamt of. Here's a simple guide on preparing for the IPG:

Step one: House style

Grab a few copies (or online stories, as it is) of your selected publication, familiarise yourself with the types of stories published and the style of writing.
Go to the publication’s website, read the company’s mission statement. Identify the objectives and the target audience.
Questions to ask yourself while researching:

Does your media organisation have a political/ economic agenda?
Where is it based, will it have national interests at heart?
Has it had any recent conflict with the government, or other foreign bureaus?

Practice writing according to the style of your publication – if you’d like some critique or feedback, don’t hesitate to come to us.

Step Two: Constructing your story

Research your committee topic. The first important source would be your background briefing paper, which is like the Wikipedia of all MUN research – a fantastic starting point, but definitely not the only reading you should do. Feel free to approach your friendly political science or international relations lecturers, they are goldmines of information.
Formulate your angle: Structure your article and run your angle by your editors if you’re unsure. In fact, it is a good idea to start writing the background of your article before the conference even starts. It will definitely help with meeting deadlines, and leave you free to pay attention to the conference proceedings.
When finding your angle, know the basics of news writing: timeliness, unusualness, proximity, impact, etc.

Step Three – Finding sources

It is a good idea to interview real life sources for your stories, to get a more well-rounded perspective. While we understand that time constraints, or even the nature of your topic, may prevent you from doing so, it is always a positive reflection on your own part to have conducted additional research. Ministers might be slightly out of reach, but lecturers, researchers and NGOs will usually be more willing to help. You can also weave in relevant quotes made in keynote speeches at UN conferences or other occasions.
Inspirational thought: One of our very own IPG journalists at AMUNC 2009 was short-listed for the Queensland Media Awards’ Young Journalist of the Year, based on a story she had published in the AMUNC magazine. This could be you too – so put your heart into it!
If you are focusing on reporting the proceedings of the conference for your article, target the key players at your committee, so you can get quotes from them. Alternatively, if you’re writing for a national-based publication, interview the delegate representing the country your paper is from.

Step Four – Conference behaviour

At the conference, it is assumed that you are familiar with BrizMUN committee procedures – from position statements to draft resolutions. Don’t worry if you’re a first time MUN-er, however, it’s fairly easy to pick up.
During moderated caucus, you are an observer, and you will not be allowed to raise motions, vote or ask questions. Everything the delegates (and directors) say is on the record, and can be used for your article (and Tweets!).
Unmoderated caucus is free for all – this is the time to ask delegates questions. However, they have the right to refuse your interview, as they will also be rushing to form alliances and working papers within the same time frame.
At the end of committee sessions for each day, there will be a cumulative press conference – a chance for you to hold delegates accountable to what they’ve said or done during the conference, in front of all six committees.
Although the publication will be completed by the second day of the conference, you are more than welcome to keep updating the blog and the Twitter account with updates. In fact, we encourage little nuances and human interest pieces, it doesn’t have to be all serious coverage.

Step Five – Enjoy!

You’ll meet all sorts of weird and wonderful people at MUN – people who will undoubtedly help shape the future of the world. Make connections, play hard, and engage in what we like to call diplomacy on the dancefloor!

Working Paper

The Working Paper is the culmination of extensive research, reporting and design from the talented journalists, designers and editors of the International Press Gallery; and it makes for a great souvenir of the conference. To view TWP from AMUNC 2009, please click HERE

If you have any questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to email ipg@brizmun.org