Newspapers and politicians around the world tend to rub along like two sheets of sandpaper the relationship is often characterised as 'tense'.

When it comes to the Premier's relationship with The Royal Gazette, he said: "Some people have characterised it as an ongoing war. I wouldn't go that far.

"But, it is clear that The Gazette has taken a position against me and my Government. That's OK. But I wish they would stop feigning neutrality. Just say what it is."

However Royal Gazette Editor Bill Zuill said it was Dr. Brown who had declared war on the newspaper in a conversation in 2007.

In a recent interview with this newspaper, Dr. Brown questions what he sees as the deliberate decision to place photographs of himself and other visiting dignitaries, such as former Jamaica Prime Minister PJ Patterson, on inside pages.

"I love to see other pictures, but it was a significant event that PJ Patterson came to Bermuda.

"Similarly, when my wife and I met President Obama, it was relegated to a Saturday issue on page five.

"So there are clear examples of the Gazette's position. I just want them to come out and say it," he said.

In March last year, the Premier ordered the ending of Government advertising with the paper, arguing that there were more effective ways to distribute information, including using the Internet.

But despite repeated requests he did not reveal the methodology used the reach his conclusion. Government subscriptions to the newspaper were also ended.

The Royal Gazette subsequently produced its own research to show that the newspaper has the biggest reach of any media outlet on the Island — with its print and web operations reaching 87 percent of the adult population.

Earlier this year, the Premier order reduced contact with the paper which was not to be kept in the loop about some press conferences, though apparently that order was later rescinded.

Explaining his reason for reducing contact, Dr. Brown said: "That was because of the toxicity; the quality of the questions, the repetition of the same questions. 'What kind of ground transport did you use on your trip?' Well, I didn't ride a bike. I travelled in a four-wheeled vehicle.

"Sometimes it is an SUV because sometimes it is three or five of us and a town car is not enough, so rather than get two cars we get an SUV.

"And the windows happen to be tinted, that is up to the people who own the SUV, but it is this image building that I think that the Gazette does trying to show that I'm living the high life."

The Royal Gazette's questions regarding Dr. Brown's overseas spending were asked after it was revealed in Parliamentary Answers that he spent $53,000 on ground transport alone in 2008/09.

He had previously made a public pledge to cut back on overseas spending in the light of the economic crisis, and instructed his Ministers to do likewise.

"(The questions are) mundane, unnecessary, agenda-connected and so, at one point when we talked about reducing contact there was just a flurry of e-mails, they were coming in at five or six a day asking questions.

"I said 'You know, we have other work to do, other than simply answer the media's questions all day long' and so I said we will reduce contact.

"That means if five e-mails come we are going to look at them and make a decision about which one of them represents the public's right to know," he said.

"And there is a difference, because sometimes we have information that we think the public ought to know, but The Gazette doesn't think so.

"Or we'll send them a document release and part of it will be released and part of it won't.

"I do not think there is anyone in Bermuda who thinks that the daily newspaper gives fair coverage to the Government or to me personally. I have offered to meet with the Bermuda Press (Gazette) directors and the editors.

"I will come to their office if they can provide a sandwich and some water and I will spend an hour or two, because I enjoy the exchanges that we could have, but I have found The Gazette to be reluctant to accept my offer to talk."

In response, Mr. Zuill said that a response to that request had now been made and talks are ongoing.

Mr. Zuill also said he has been trying to get a meeting with the Premier since he was elected to office.

This month it was announced Government intends to table its PATI (Public Access To Information) legislation by the end of the year.

The final form of the legislation is still being worked out and the Premier is seeking to iron out as many "wrinkles" as possible before it goes live.

He adds the caveat that some information will remain out of bounds.

Asked whether it might reduce friction between the Government and the media, he replied: "If it's media it probably will help. If it's media-with-an-agenda, it probably won't."