Media room
If space allows, designate a space the media can use and share amongst themselves as a home base throughout the duration of the trial/case. Providing this space outside of the courtroom will reduce the number of distractions and movement inside the proceedings. In this room, media can watch the proceedings via their courtroom feed and conduct other business as they see fit. Some courts also provide additional remote workspace to the media. Read more about parking and staging areas.
Seating
Specifically for media seating, one option is to allow a working committee comprised of media members to develop the criteria for allocating seat assignments, including pool assignments if the media demand for seats exceeds the number that can be assigned to them. The process can be very formal with assigning specific seats to credentialed media or it can be more ad hoc, with seats occupied by the press on a first-come/first-served basis each day.
Clear policies regarding seating should be publicized and communicated to relevant parties including policies on:
- how many representatives from each news organization are allowed if there is not enough seating,
- how reserved seats that are not filled by the stated time of each court session will be allocated,
- the consequences of a reserved seat not being used for a substantial percentage of time (i.e., canceling the pass), and
- if entry or exit to the courtroom is prohibited until there is a break.
Miscellaneous
- Media organizations should pay for any facilities improvements requested. Examples of costs include the installation of extra phone lines, lot rental (if off-site parking is required), still and video pool camera distribution feeds, media workspace, auxiliary listening rooms if additional facilities (such as trailers) need to be brought in, any necessary city/county permits, and all expenses to run sound/video to auxiliary listening facilities. Media organizations should be responsible for repairing any damage that may be caused to court property (i.e., driving stakes to put up a tent, etc.).
- Ensure that national media is made aware of any regional emergency or weather testing protocols. For example, in Minnesota, the tornado sirens are tested statewide at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month while in Illinois, it is the first Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m.