Press Corps
Press Corps
The International Role of Press
In today’s world, journalism holds a crucial role in reporting on world affairs, and is the main bridge between the United Nations bodies and the larger global community. The press is paramount to upholding democracy and enables the general public to better view events through a multitude of perspectives. Its freedom is a necessary civil liberty. However, as widespread respect and awareness of this freedom erodes, the work of the press becomes more difficult. Hence, NASMUN Press Corps aims to instill greater respect for the press via providing a platform for students to assume its role and practise journalism.
About the Press Corps
As opposed to a more traditional committee where members represent countries and discuss a topic, members of the Press Corps adopt the roles of international news organisations and report on the conference. Members of the Press Corps write hard news, features, and editorial pieces. They are also given the opportunity to experiment with multimedia production and even conduct press conferences. The Press Corps strives to spread the truth about what happens in council (even if their articles may be a bit biased along the way).
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Members of the Press Corps report on council sessions, interview prime actors in councils, and subject delegates to heavy questioning based on their working papers’ inconsistencies and/or nonsensical remarks or actions (otherwise known as “silly business”) during press conferences. Additionally, they will have to emulate their news agency’s editorial stances, reporting styles, biases, and idiosyncrasies throughout the whole of NASMUN. For NASMUN 2021, the Press Corps is known as a double-delegate committee. This means that participants will work together in pairs as they represent their respective news organisation.
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Participating in the Press Corps allows students to hone their language skills, explore journalistic work, and offer them a new way to view the world and how it communicates. It guides students to analyse committee talk critically, determine fact from fiction, and dig up the real issues in negotiations. By bringing back the Press Corps, we hope to encourage students to ask the tough questions, expose the hidden truth, and pursue the story. The Press team promises that it is definitely an all new way to experience a MUN event. Truly inline with this year's theme "Our Words, Our World".
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We encourage those who enjoy writing, researching, and interviewing others to sign up for the Press Corps. Not everyone can share ideas and be heard while thrust into the chaos of group negotiations in a council session. So we present the Press Corps as an alternative for students with strong verbal skills and communicate best through writing, giving you a chance to really shine.
Press & Admin
(From left to right) Shine, Joachim.
(From left to right) Shine, Joachim.
(From left to right) Joachim, Shine.
(From left to right) Shine, Joachim.
Dolot Shine Mikaela Maminta
Deputy Secretary-General (Admin), Press & Admin
As compared to the rest of the organising committee, Shine is actually one of the more inexperienced members. She only participated in one conference, NASMUN 2020, and just as a delegate. But ever since she got thrust into the world of MUN in Sec 1, she has always admired it. Shine is honoured (though nevertheless confused) to inherit the role of Deputy Secretary General (Admin) and be a member of the Press team.
In school, Shine takes one of the Double Humanities combinations, more specifically the one with Pure Physics and Pure Chemistry. Her friends like to tease her for being a stereotypical ‘rock-obsessed’ Core Geography student. To which she has nothing to say because they are absolutely correct. The entire social science is enthralling to Shine and she enjoys identifying geographical phenomena around her from time to time. (Her favourite kind of rock is pumice, by the way!) Aside from Geography, Shine also likes indulging in various media, writing stories, and learning more about the universe we live in. Despite having hobbies that revolve around writing, she is abysmal at language subjects like English and Literature. Unfortunately.
If you are lucky, you can find Shine in the canteen eating, chatting with friends, or drinking peach tea while staring solemnly into the middle distance. Feel free to say hi at this point. She would appreciate the conversation.
In the end, Shine hopes that NASMUN 2021 will be an enriching experience for all. Whether it be through the late nights of researching, the heated debates, or the friendships you forged along the way. As a final note, just remember: if you do not get any awards this year, there is always next time. See you there!
Joachim Mejia Laxa
Press & Admin
Joachim is a Secondary 3 student who has been involved in NASMUN for the past three years. Previously attending NASMUN 2019 and 2020 as a delegate, he is so excited to finally be a part of the organising committee for NASMUN 2021!
Some things Joachim loves to do are cooking, drawing, and sleeping. A lot. Being Secondary 3 definitely taught him the value of getting enough rest. Most importantly, however, he loves to sing! Hailing from the Jam Band CCA, you will definitely hear him belt his heart out in the classrooms and corridors around school. He is easy-going and easy to please, but if there is one thing he absolutely loathes, it’s Math. Trying to make sense of all the weird numbers and random letters just drains the energy right out of him. Having to take both E Math and A Math subjects is probably the worst part of Sec 3 life, in his opinion. (Seriously, why does Math have to be so hard?)
Nonetheless, Joachim is extremely grateful that he was granted a position in the organising committee. He hopes that the entire team’s efforts will make NASMUN 2021 an amazing and enjoyable experience for all. See you there!