"We all have a story to tell, and the journey is only 1% finished." Facebook's Trevor Johnson hit the note in pitch-perfect form last Friday, when he addressed nearly 700 high school students from across the globe on the influence of the media at the annual UNIS-UN Conference.
This year marked the 40th anniversary of the two-day conference, featuring high profile speakers (including YouTuber Casey Neistat, author Buzz Bissinger and Vice founder Suroosh Alvi), intriguing student-led forums, and ample bonding opportunities between UNIS students and those visiting from 16 countries. The event was also held at the UN's General Assembly Hall, an aspect not lost on the speakers—who all mentioned their excitement at taking the podium on such a preeminent stage—as well as the students themselves, who most likely broke the room's previous selfie record.
This year's theme, Media's Influence: Opinions, Activism, and Outcomes, focused on the role and power of traditional and new media as a source of change, activism, propaganda and more. Take a look inside the UNGA by clicking on the photo below to be taken to the slideshow.
