Papal Visit - The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre used as Media Centre

The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre (QEIICC), was commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to be the media centre for the recent Papal Visit to the UK. The Centre hosted over 500 international broadcast and print journalists.

Set Up

The Churchill Auditorium was set up as a workspace to host 200 print journalists – with desks, internet access, phone lines and radio broadcast booths. The Pickwick Suite, Caxton and Fleet Rooms were furnished with 61 edit booths for broadcast media to use. Plasma screens were set up throughout the Centre to allow journalists to monitor coverage of the visit as it was broadcast.

A viewing platform was constructed on the Green, in the front of The QEIICC to allow a limited number of broadcasters to view the Papal procession. The Centre provided heightened 24 hour security and opened each day from 5am until 11pm to accommodate international journalists.

Experienced

An FCO spokesperson said: “The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre was a natural choice for this event. Its location and facilities are second to none. We have worked with the QEIICC a number of times – they hosted the world’s media for the funeral of HRH The Queen Mother and the G7 summit. The QEIICC are experienced and knowledgeable of this type of event.”

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