Media Advisory

P.M. Forni, a civility expert at The Johns Hopkins University and author of the new book, Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct (St. Martin's Press, March 2002), is available to discuss the latest survey on the perceived decline in American civility, "Aggravating Circumstances: A Status Report on Rudeness in America," released yesterday by the research group Public Agenda.

With a mass-market audience in mind, Choosing Civility helps readers rediscover time-honored practices that are often overlooked in our fast-paced and stressful lives. Far from being just a matter of good form, social skills are a necessary tool to achieve a sane and serene life, Forni says.

As you might expect, Professor Forni is charming and wonderful to talk with, and he can address a broad range of issues connected to civility for any story on the subject. To speak with P.M. Forni or to receive a review copy of Choosing Civility, contact Amy Cowles at 410-516-7160. Forni's Web site is www.jhu.edu/civility/. Video and audio recordings featuring P.M. Forni are available online at www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/audio-video/forni.html. For more information, visit www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/home02/mar02/choose.html.