Euro Guide's 'Tweet' Success

In the run-up to next week's European elections, Northern Ireland's only dedicated public affairs firm has launched a guide aimed at explaining the European Union to voters - exclusively available on the instant social network site 'Twitter'.

The document is being provided by Stratagem for anyone who logs onto its online service at twitter.com/stratagemni.

Stratagem, established over a decade ago as the province's first lobbying company, has grasped the rapid communication opportunities offered by the 'Twitter' service.

The firm most recently conducted a live interview with Transport Minister Conor Murphy, providing instant updates, or 'tweets', to it 'followers'.

Gary McKeown of Stratagem said: "We have written a comprehensive guide to the European Union and have put it online just in time for next week's elections.

"All people have to do is log-on to our Twitter page and send us a direct message to get the guide. Alternatively, those who don’t have a Twitter account can visit the page and drop us an e-mail through it."

Stratagem will be at the European Election count at the King’s Hall on Monday 8 June and will be using Twitter to provide live updates to followers as events unfold.

Polls open next Thursday, with seven local candidates chasing three MEP seats, which are currently occupied by Sinn Fein's Bairbre de Brun, Ulster Unionist Jim Nicholson and Traditional Unionist Voice's Jim Allister, all of whom are contesting the election.

The other runners are the DUP's Diane Dodds; the Green Party's Steven Agnew; Alban Maguinness for the SDLP; and the Alliance Party's Ian Parsley.

(PR/JM)