Harmony Institute's communications guide, FTW! Net Neutrality For The Win: How Entertainment and the Science of Influence to Save Your Internet, was released to the public last Wednesday, June 23rd. Within its first week, FTW! has been downloaded by over 1,200 supporters, and the accompanying website has recieved 5,000 visits from people seeking to further understand and act on the looming threat posed to the open Internet. FTW! provides essential information that communicators can use to create powerful messages that resonate with the public and promote actions that can help secure net neutrality and support fair and balanced telecommunications policy reform.

Part I of FTW! outlines the debate over Internet access rights and the role AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Verizon play in providing service to Americans. Using recent polling results and behavioral science theory, the guide offers a basic communications strategy for people looking to create effective campaigns that reach the U.S. public. Part II explores the keys to positive behavior change and introduces the Harmony Institute methodology for entertainment-education, a technique that is effective at influencing audience attitudes toward social issues.

“The current policy struggle to secure net neutrality rules at the FCC will be decided upon with or without the input of the public,” stated Harmony Founder and Director John S. Johnson. “These are the unfortunate circumstances we’ve found ourselves in. But, this guide offers the first true attempt to make accessible a comprehensive definition and strategy for delivering the nuances of this debate to the public.”

Accompanying the nation-wide release of FTW! was a June 23 Huffington Post article authored by Johnson that generated commentary on the subject from readers across the country. "So you think you can download? New guide shows threat to the Internet, what you need to do about it" can be read here.

The downloadable PDF and interactive online version of the guide are available at savemyinternet.com

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In the coming months the Harmony Institute will continue to support the issue of net neutrality through its innovative communications guide FTW!, as well as seek out strong narrative projects for evaluating entertainment's potential to influence positive social chance. These projects, and others in development, are made possible through public and private grants, and more importantly, through donations from concerned individuals like you.

If you support the Institute and its mission, please let us know by sending a tax-deductible contribution. Even a small amount can make a big difference to an organization of our size. To make a gift online, simply enter your donation amount and click the button below. Checks can be mailed to our New York office at 40 Elizabeth Street, Suite 400, New York City, NY, 10013. With your financial support, the Harmony Institute is able to further realize its powerful vision. We thank you.

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