Vancouver eases ban on reporters contacting city staff

The City of Vancouver is changing its media policy to allow reporters to contact senior staff directly.

In an email to media today, the city's communications director Rena Kendall-Craden said journalists will now be able to reach a list of spokespeople across various departments.

"One thing we have heard from some of you is a desire to have more access to senior staff on files that you are working on. In response to this I am happy to let you know that we have made arrangements to provide easier access to City spokespeople," Kendall-Craden wrote.

The list of senior bureaucrats includes city manager Penny Ballem and deputy city manager Sadhu Johnston, top planner Brian Jackson and various assisant planning directors, general manager of community services Brenda Prosken, managing director of social policy and projects Mary Clare Zak, chief housing officer Mukhtar Latif, general manager of engineering Peter Judd, transportation director Jerry Dobrovolny, and general manager of financial services Patrice Impey.

The memo marks a change from the city's policy requiring reporters to direct all interview requests through the communications department. That policy was implemented in 2010.