Press Corps
Press Corps
The media plays a unique role in our lives. We comprehend and form opinions about the world around us according to what we read, hear, and see in the news. And yet, being a journalist has never been tougher. The rise of digital journalism, competition with non-traditional media entities, and the increasing significance of disinformation have forced journalists to adapt. These trends have also made it more difficult for the public to tell truth from fiction – the implications are enormous and, in many ways, negative. Delegates in the Press Corps will navigate the contemporary difficulties of journalism as they work to communicate, in real time, the conference’s breaking news stories. Delegates will be responsible for reporting on one committee from each organ; writing news, feature, and editorial pieces; leveraging multimedia production and digital journalism techniques; and conducting press conferences. Simultaneously, delegates will serve as fact-checkers for inaccurate reporting and consider what journalistic ethics and standards mean in today’s world.
Director's Letter:
Dear PC Delegates,
Welcome to the Press Corps! My name is Aristotle Vainikos, and I cannot tell you how excited I am to be serving as your PC Director for Harvard National Model United Nations 2022.
Originally from Orland Park, IL (about 45 minutes from Chicago), I am a junior at Harvard studying Government and Statistics. In high school, I was an avid Speech Team competitor; in retrospect, I think it was this activity that catalyzed my interests in public speaking, current events, and international affairs. I also participated in Quizbowl and Student Government. College has provided me a nice chance to refocus my interests and pursue unique extracurricular opportunities. I chair the Harvard Political Union, direct a local youth mentorship program, and work as a research assistant.
Of course, I also participate in model UN! I joined the International Competitive model UN team during the first semester of my freshman year. I won’t lie, it took a bit of convincing from my friends before I actually tried out, but I am so thankful I did. Model UN has not only been an incredible community for me, but also a powerful educational opportunity. After every tournament I attend, I feel more in touch with critical contemporary issues and more in tune with international relations at large. Additionally, I served as the Assistant Director for PC during HNMUN 2020, and have participated in previous HMUN conferences as a Director.
I truly cannot wait to serve on the dais of PC once more at HNMUN 2022. Press Corps is a unique opportunity to experience model UN at its finest. It is the special job of the media to interpret the developments of the UN and to share the news with the world. It will be up to you to keep a bird’s-eye view of the entire conference, hold other delegates to their word, and communicate big issues in a meaningful way. As I said, there’s nothing else like it. I hope that all PC delegates will leave the conference having gained rich knowledge of contemporary issues, having stepped outside of their comfort zones just a little, and having met some phenomenal fellow students.
If you have any questions before the conference, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Sincerely,
Aristotle Vainikos
Director of the Press Corps
Harvard National Model United Nations 2022