This document provides tips for journalists on finding story ideas and conducting interviews. It suggests exploring various forums and conversations to find topics people are interested in. When researching a potential story, journalists should read widely from different sources and talk to many people to gather facts. For interviews, open-ended questions that encourage personal perspectives work best. Journalists should listen attentively for revealing details and follow-up questions. Building trust and making sources comfortable is important for getting meaningful responses.

1. THIMUN QATAR
MUNITY Press Team

2. FINDING A STORY
Journalism isn’t fiction writing – you can’t create
stories from your imagination. You have to find
newsworthy topics to write about.
Similar to writing a research paper, if you have a
chance to pick your topic, choose one that you are
passionate about, interested in, or have some
experience with. It typically ends up making your
writing more interesting, personal and fun.
The reverse can certainly be argued, that if you have a
topic you know nothing about, you can educate and
perhaps entertain yourself to a level of curiosity that
leads to great reporting.

3. FINDING A STORY
• The Georgia Rambler
- Charles Salter of the Atlanta Journal (1970’s) got in his car, headed out
to small towns and would ask around until he found a story. He was in
search of the most offbeat characters to appear in his column. His stories
are as eclectic and extraordinary as the people he interviewed. From tall
tales of the Okefenokee Swamp to treasure hunters of Duluth and ex-
moonshiners of North Georgia. He even discovered the alleged original
recipe of Coca-Cola in the pages of an old pharmacist’s book. All this as a
result of getting out of his chair and talking to people!
• Coffee House Newsroom

4. Finding Fresh Ideas
• READ BACK-ISSUES OF YOUR NEWSPAPER
- Redo stories or follow up on stories of interest
- Relate the stories to your own experiences
2 www.munity-online.net Monday, 22 January 2007
Monday, 22 January 2007 www.munity-online.net Volume 15, Pre-Conference Issue
2007 MUNITY STAFF POWER OF EDUCATION
THIMUN 2007 Deals With Poverty many to be the heart of the conference, some delegates may
By Kat Chen
Over 121 million children
worldwide cannot go to school. Some
have to work to help their families get by,
By Jared Staha find themselves more involved with it than others. Such Poverty. It is everywhere, and others cannot afford to pay school
delegates may include those in the Economic and Social effecting nearly three billion people. The fees. In Tanzania, school costs were
Year after year, the primary objective of the THIMUN Council (ECOSOC) and Special Conference, committees
statistics are sobering: half of the global introduced as part of the World Bank’s
foundation remains clear and unchanged, and that is to provide whose themes are centered primarily on the same MDGs.
population suffers from abject poverty, a Structural Adjustment Program. This
an organized forum in which the leaders of tomorrow may Delegates from other committees will not be left
condition that kills eleven million children program, meant to alleviate poverty,
debate the topics being discussed by the leaders of today. Seeing totally isolated from the conference theme, although they
under the age of five each year and denies has conversely caused a drop in primary
that most of these ‘hot-button’ issues are subject to change, may debate it in less detail. Various other activities have
food to 790 million people. People spend school enrollment. Over fifty percent
every year, the THIMUN undoubtedly been in the works Co-Editors more money throughout the world on pet of the world’s one billion illiterates
Board of Directors selects one to get the average delegate more
of particular interest to be the involved with this year’s theme.
Elisa Essner food every year, than on fighting poverty. are women, because poor girls are less
central theme of the conference. More information about such Kate O’Connor The facts are not difficult to find, but likely to receive adequate education
because many of the extreme cases of due to gender biases as well as costs.
This theme represents a activities will be announced Text Editors poverty seem so far from our everyday The benefits of an education for
current global struggle, and as the conference unfolds.
Katherine Chen lives, it is difficult to create in people children living in poverty are not limited
is chosen based on its overall The conference theme
international relevance and itself means nothing delegates Jared Staha the necessary urgency to incite change. to being able to read and add. Education is
influence. Hence, no matter understand and appreciate its Reporters The reduction and eventual a key tool in wealth creation. One current
what the topic, it is normally significance. So what do students eradication of poverty is a high priority method incorporates the economic
Anna Andreeva for the United Nations, listed as the first activities of a community into a school’s
one that works in tandem with really think about this year’s
many of the issues debated theme? “I believe that this is Carolina Baez Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to curriculum; if a village is known for a
in the individual committees. an excellent theme considering Aida Curtis be completed by 2015. Current work in the particular skill, such as carpet-weaving,
To set the tone for the current situation in Africa Emilie Dack field of poverty reduction is being carried that skill would be taught in school
this year’s conference the and other lesser developed Anna Dallas out by numerous non-governmental alongside with core subjects such as
Board has chosen the theme of nations and around the world,” organizations (NGOs), missionary groups, arithmetic. This creates opportunities for
“Eradication of extreme poverty says delegate Mathias Gelb
Mallori Hamilton and UN-related bodies such as the United future employment, brings money into
and hunger.” They have chosen of the International School of Alp Kadioglu Nations Development Program (UNDP), the community, and allows education
to keep using the Millennium Panama. “There are a lot of Nazli Koca UNICEF and the World Bank. The work and economics to coexist. Some schools
Development Goals as a basis problems in this world; however Vicram Mehta has yielded some positive results, such as offer night classes for children who
for the conference themes, a none are as devastating as
Caroline Moh
pattern started in THIMUN poverty and hunger, and one
Charlotte Ryan
The best method of helping
2006 with the theme “Promotion of the best ways to attack
of gender equality.” THIMUN them is through awareness.” Sucheta Shone
2007 Secretary General Hälsig shares a similar Sara Siguion-Reyna
Thomas Hälsig believes that
this pattern will most likely
view, stating that, “this year’s
THIMUN ARCHIVES theme is the strongest we have
Layout future generations escape poverty:
continue in future conferences. General Debate Begins. had so far, since it clearly affects Ross Degenhardt
“As for the last two years the THIMUN themes are similar
to some of the MDGs, and as far as I have information they
so many people and is a solution for so many world issues.”
Only time will tell what affect this year’s
Michael Eisenstein
Chris Hayes
EDUCATION.
will continue this pattern, since the MDGs resemble most theme has on THIMUN 2007 and how it might make
of the world problems in short definition and achievements.” this conference different from previous years; but with Rayka Kumru
Beatriz Narbon increases in adult literacy rates, but there must work during the day. Other schools
Though the annual theme may be considered by expectations running high, the prospects look promising.
is still much work to be done. Falling are trying to eliminate school fees,
Inara Oztekin poverty rates in some areas may be hoping to bring scores of children back
Yuko Shen
Welcome To THIMUN 2007!
attributed to economic booms in only a into the classroom, using methods like
Kevin Shortall few countries, yet there are entire regions micro-financing to replace lost revenue.
Photography with shrinking domestic income rates. Former Secretary-General Kofi
Many people think that poverty Annan said, “Universal primary education
Won Choi Hae is simply a part of people’s lives, and is central to the fight against poverty.”
Graeme Davey that the complete eradication of poverty A good primary school education
Madeline Duhon is far too idealistic. This view, though can help children escape the vicious cycle
Emily Kim pessimistic, is understandable. To solve of poverty, and improve their physical
Gabrielle Krayenbuhl the global poverty problem, billions of and emotional well-being. Educated
people must be given access to basic children will grow into the generations
Artwork human needs, including healthcare, clean that will change the world so that one
Ryan Botts water, food, and shelter. Missing from this day the word ‘poverty’ will disappear
Elizabeth Stanton list, however, is one very important factor, from our global lexicon. This must be
perhaps the best method of helping future the ultimate goal of this year’s THIMUN
generations escape poverty: education. conference, influencing every debate.

5. Finding Fresh Ideas
• LOOK AT MESSAGE BOARDS IN THE HALL AND DISCUSSION FORUMS ONLINE
See what people are talking about, advertising and calling attention to

6. Finding Fresh Ideas
• BE A GOOD LISTENER
Even if it means eavesdropping on conversations in various forums,
in the cafeteria, hotels and in general in places where people gather

7. Finding Fresh Ideas
• SET UP INFORMAL FOCUS GROUPS
- Get your friends, classmates and fellow conference goers together
and find out what they want to read about. What excites them, frustrates
them and concerns them?
- Survey conference goers (students and directors) asking them
open ended or specific questions.

8. Finding Fresh Ideas
• READ EVERYTHING YOU CAN!
- Newspapers, magazines and journals
- Websites:
www.pressdisplay.com
www.newslink.org/statcamp.html
- News radio
Radio Qatar ? BBC News? NPR from the U.S.?

9. Finding Fresh Ideas
• READ EVERYTHING YOU CAN!

10. Finding Fresh Ideas
• OPEN YOUR EYES, NOT JUST YOUR EARS
- See new things in your environment?
- See everyone around you as a potential news source
- Constant observation, sharp eye, eyes and ears on the lookout

11. Finding Fresh Ideas
• ESTABLISH GOOD SOURCES
- Create a good working relationship with people who can help
you, such as the Admin. Staff, the Secretariat, Student Officers,
Board Members, Conference Management, MUN Directors

12. REPORTING ON THE STORY YOU FIND
• “Great questions make great reporting” Diane Sawyer
- where do those questions come from?
• “It was while making newspaper deliveries, trying to miss
the bushes and hit the porch, that I first learned the
importance of accuracy in journalism.” Charles Osgood
- where do you find the facts and how do you know what is true?

13. RESEARCH
• Like a family tree, the story has a birthplace (born) and
will branch out from that (re) source. Your ideas will
continue to grow and develop as your leads take you to
new people, places, and ideas.
• Allow your mind time to think through all the possible
branches of the story tree. Talk with your editors about
the shape of the tree to get support for certain branches
and suggestions about redirection for others branches.

14. RESEARCH
Decreasing the homework load at John Burroughs School?
NYT Article
Stanford U. The Dalton School Horace Mann The Trinity School John Burroughs School
Research by Denise Pope Adam Gopnik Harris Cooper
>3.5hrs homework = health risk Author, parent Neuroscience speaker
Student Head of School Parents Teacher
Survey Interview Opinions Opinions
Stanford Students with Jessica Bagby
connection to JBS Head of
Tutoring Center Head of NYC
Upper School
Sam Altman Mr. Albrecht Upper School Cousins
Alum, $$$ Alum JBS teacher 90% Stressed
Increase in University admissions
unhealthy
“No way you could drives our kids to
behaviors unhealthy behaviors
Students come to us play a sport, do all
deepen their understanding your homework and
of the subject matter, to get more than 6
hours of sleep! I am Washington University
learn to manage their load, Sleep and homework
and for stress management always tired and
study 2011
anticipating a
vacation”

15. RESEARCH
• Knowing as much factual information as you can about
each of the branches of your tree will increase your
credibility and lead to good questions to ask
- if you are going to interview for a job, you better know
something about the person you are talking to and what you are
talking about (the company, the school, etc)
- people will tend to open up to you if they believe in what
you are doing and think you are going to do a good job in your
report

16. INTERVIEWING
• RESEARCH
- Go into your interview knowing a lot of information
about your subject

17. THE INTERVIEW
• OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS
- In journalism, stories are all about people and how they are
affected by events. Audiences want to experience the emotion.
Even though modern audiences tend to cringe at the question
“How does this make you feel?”, it is very effective.
- Questions beginning with “Why” or “How” and “Tell me about…”
are designed to encourage a more meaningful answer drawing
from the subjects own experience or feelings.
- Would be nice to prepare some follow up questions!

18. THE INTERVIEW
• OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS
“What color shirt are you wearing?” vs.
“That’s an interesting colored shirt you’re wearing.”
“Do you get along well with your teachers?” vs.
“Tell me about your relationship with your teachers.”
“Do you like your job as Secretary General?” vs.
“What do you wish to accomplish in your role as Secretary General?”
“Did you take Model UN in the lower school?” vs.
“How did you get involved in Model UN?”

19. THE INTERVIEW
• ASKING THE RIGHT QUESITONS
Stay curious and don’t become the story or an insider to the story. If you stay on
the outside you’ll see it better and know the right questions to ask. If you are on the
inside and think you know the answers, you might as well write the story without the
interview. If you think like a first timer to THIMUN and you don’t know how things
work (but you have done the research), then you will ask more curious questions that
the readers might think “why didn’t I think of that?”

20. THE INTERVIEW
• THE ART OF LISTENING
- Bob Dotson, NBC News Reporter
“ Answers to your questions come in “3’s”. First the person will answer the question
the way they think you want to hear it. Then they will, to make sure you understand
the answer, answer it the way they see it, and then, if you wait around long enough,
through that awkward silence, they will tell you where the body is buried. It will
come pouring out and you are left with the real meat of the story.”

21. THE INTERVIEW
• THE ART OF LISTENING
- For the BIG interview, bring a recorder or another
person to transcribe what the interviewer is saying so
you can listen to what the person being interviewed is
saying and be attentive in order to pick-up on key points
(ready to veer off with follow up questions).

22. THE INTERVIEW
• THE ART OF LISTENING
- “I never learned anything when I was talking”
- Bite your tongue and try not to interrupt
-

23. THE INTERVIEW
• Introduce yourself and be a gracious host, show
respect for the source.
• Break the ice by finding commonality
• Go to the source. Interview where they will
feel comfortable. Allows you to see them in
their environment.
• Last question: “Is there anything you would like
to add?”