Committee Description:

Yellow journalism

[ˈyelō ˈjərnlˌizəm] noun

journalism that is based upon sensationalism and crude exaggeration.

 

February 1898, William Randolph Hearst's The New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer's The New York World are locked in a bitter circulation war, willing to write whatever headline it takes to sell more papers. As tensions brew between the United States and Spain, Hearst sensationalizes the unexpected sinking of the USS Maine, spinning the truth against Spain with fear-mongering headlines calling for war. Within months, the country is spurred into the Spanish-American War—for the first time in history, no force has shaped history more strongly than the power of the press.

 

Delegates represent the editorial staff of The Journal in this unique blend of war and boardroom crisis committees, exploring the ethical dilemmas and consequences of the media's influence on history as each delegate fights to uphold their stake in the war, their publishing power, and their moral code. 

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Topic A: Circulation War

"Newspapers should have no friends."
- Joseph Pulitzer

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The New York Journal is neck-and-neck with rival newspaper The New York World in a battle to control circulation over New York City, printing headlines depicting scandals, corruption, and violence in attempts to allure readers. Delegates must navigate the circulation war, navigating the financial and political gain of The Journal's ever-growing readership, sowing distrust in The World through denouncement and slander, or deciding if this war is even worth fighting at all.

Topic B: The Spanish-American War 
“You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war."
- William Randolph Hearst

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The Spanish-American war is considered by historians to be a turning point in the history of propaganda. Publications saw brewing conflict between the two countries over Cuban colonies as an opportunity to sell papers—the first conflict in history to have been spurred by media involvement. The Journal is in a position of immense power—the force by which America continues to strike against Spain is one influenced by public perception and outrage.
The war sells papers: play your cards how you will.

Andrew Dai

I'm Andrew Dai, a 12th grade student at The Woodlands Secondary School in Mississauga. After a brief on-and-off experience with Model UN as a freshman, my passion for MUN really took off last year in grade 11, and I've found my place in the GTA's little MUN community ever since. Having personally grown so much through MUN, I hope all delegates at MarkMUN get to live these same experiences, there's a lot to look forward to! Besides MUN, I have a lot of other weird interests (I wonder if you can guess what inspired me to direct this commitee...), so feel free to chat with me about anything!