The practicability of having a media centre, and the facilities that are put into it, will depend entirely upon the resources available to the electoral authorities. There is no doubt that if the funding is available to provide such a centre, then the quality of media coverage will improve. Gathering the media in a single centre makes many of the basic functions of media management - press releases, press conferences, briefings, etc - much simpler. Donors are sometimes willing to provide funding for at least a modest media centre, particularly if it is seen as building the long-term capacity of the EMB. For many electoral authorities, however, it is simply beyond their capacity.

A media centre could include some or all of the following:

• Telephones, faxes, and internet connections
• Computers for media use, but also linked to a results service
• Television monitor screens
• Pool feeds for audio and video so that individual journalists do not have to struggle to place their microphones on the speaker’s podium or jostle for limited camera space
• Radio and television studios for conducting interviews.

Where space constraints dictate, it is reasonable to establish time slots and sign-up procedures to ensure that all journalists will have at least some access to these facilities.

In large countries or those with federal political structures, a single media centre may not be enough. In India, for example, the Election Commission of India requires there to be a media room in each counting centre, as well as a media centre with full facilities in each State.

It is useful to have the Media Centre up and running a week or so before the election so that journalists will become familiarized with the facility and the briefing schedule prior to Election Day. Contacts with service providers (e.g., the telephone company) should be undertaken well in advance to ensure that the Centre is up and running on schedule. It is best to maintain the Centre in operation at least until the final announcement of official results.