NNSL (Feb 10/97) - A smaller staff is only part of the new Native Communications Society strategy. It's also considering change of venue.

The society's five-year lease at the NWT Communications Centre on 49th Street in Yellowknife expires at the end of the month.

"Being a tenant here has been an enormous financial strain. The leases far exceeded our financial capabilities. And the space we need is a lot smaller that what was required in 1992," said Barry Zellen, NCS executive director.

Originally the society had three leases, but two ended, one with the demise of the Press Independent newspaper, he said.

"This is the first time in years we've had the capability to move."

NCS is studying its options of staying where it is, renting elsewhere or purchasing its own property. It's also considering a move to Ndilo. The society requires about 200 square metres of space.

"Structural downsizing is the reason we require less space," adds Zellen. "Now with the ( Native Press) newspaper into production and desktop publishing there's virtually no space requirements for it," Zellen explained.

The TV section used to be studio-based but now the focus has shifted to obtaining community footage. So there's been a 75-per-cent reduction in space needs for TV since 1992, says Zellen.

And radio staff work shifts, which also doesn't require as much space, he added.