NNSL (May 15/98) - The city is asking the media for tips on improving its communication skills.

"The city is going to take a pro-active approach, we're going to be open and we're going to be responsive," declared clerk Tim Mercer during a meeting with local media Tuesday.

Mercer called the meeting to gather input to be used in developing a formal communications policy.

The policy is aimed at increasing the efficiency of communication between city staff and media. It is being developed in conjunction with a review of the city's procedural bylaw, which details the way meetings are run.

Other public-relations models are being studied. One reporter at the meeting noted there was little the city could learn from the territorial government, suggesting the GNWT's media-relations policy manual should be "thrown in the lake."

Mercer said the new policy would be based on three principles: the public has a right to know; staff has a duty to provide information; in certain cases it is in the public interest that information remain confidential.

Four reporters, three from the Yellowknifer and one from CJCD, and a CBC manager attended the meeting.