More than just a platform for debate, speeches

At this year's BIMUN, a delegate whose name plate reads "Associated Press" sat at the back of the UNESCO conference, taking notes on anything of substance achieved in the sessions.

Delegate Liu Xiangyi was from the main press center of BIMUN, a news reporting organ comprising major public media groups from around the world.

These delegates from the MPC were scattered in different committees to follow the motions, interview other delegates and run a press conference where necessary.

"I found it interesting to be a journalist here," says the 16-year-old, who wrote four reports on the first day of the event.

Liu gathered a lot of information related to UNESCO before she traveled from Hangzhou Foreign Languages School to Beijing, gaining knowledge about artificial intelligence and innovative technologies in different countries.

"I then hoped I could dig out something more meaningful by interviewing the delegates at the conference." She says.

Fang Hui, 20, an assistant director of the MPC, says to role-play a journalist is different from representing a country on the committees.

"The job of the journalist is to observe rather than defend a certain position," she says. "It's about staying neutral and keeping an open mind."

Journalists from the MPC were required to write previews, reports and comments in Chinese, English and French during the four-day event.

As an English major, Fang was in charge of editing English articles and giving delegates tips about their stories.

"During my preparation I read through news writing guides, which will help me to be a journalism intern next year." says Fang.

Mi Anchao, an English major from Beihang University, tried her hand at the simulated United Nations Development Program.

"Though I'd heard that the threshold for the media segment was not high, I found it's difficult to write in-depth reports," says Mi, adding that the MPC helped her develop a deeper understanding about journalism.

The junior says the experience could also help her in her application for a postgraduate program at the Journalism and Media Studies Centre of Hong Kong University.

Shi Yu, a senior from the Shanghai International Studies University, says the MPC not only offered delegates an opportunity to practice three languages, but also to look at the conference from a different perspective.

"I don't think all the delegates were keen on debates and speeches," says Shi. "So, students who wanted to experience the work of a reporter could find their place at the MPC and have a go at news writing.

"Talent for the country can come from the MUN. And it's important to learn how to tell the outside world about China."

This was the third time Shi had worked at the press center at BIMUN since it started in 2014. And he has already got a job offer from the international section of Xinhua News Agency.

Shi says he had found his passion through his experiences at the MUN.