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January 2, 2008 - On April 25th and 26th, PodCamp NYC will convene at Brooklyn Polytechnic University for version 2.0 of the successful “unconference” on how to use, implement, and share new media tools including podcasts, videocasts, and blogs. The philosophy of the unconference, an increasingly popular substitute for commercial business conferences, is that anyone can attend and create a session free of charge.

Last year’s PodCamp NYC covered a diverse array of topics including how to podcast from a cell phone, turning puppet shows into video podcasts, media democracy, globalization, and the business of running a podcast (e.g., monetization and marketing). Some notable names among the 1,000 participants were key industry players like Andrew Baron, creator of the daily videoblog “Rocketboom;” Shelly Palmer, author of “Television Disrupted;” and Jay Brodsky, former Director of Digital Media at NPR.

PodCamp NYC 2.0 will again provide a platform for digital media enthusiasts and entrepreneurs living and working in New York City (and beyond) to network, brainstorm, and share ideas and information in a decidedly casual, collaborative environment. There are unspoken rules barring dress codes, “keynote” speakers, and passive attendees. In fact, if someone is not satisfied with a session, he or she may feel free to leave and try another—ensuring that this decentralized, democratic event truly is what the people make it.

“The unconference model creates a unique paradigm for an exchange of ideas with a diverse demographic of people,” states John C. Havens, Lead Organizer for PodCampNYC. “At last year’s event, for instance, we had reporters from BusinessWeek chatting with high school students and Second Life mavens proffering ideas on how to monetize online content to TV executives.”

Along those lines, this year’s event has a focus on helping educators and students understand how best to implement new media, with various how-to and similar sessions in the works. Visit www.podcampnyc.org to find out more about this year’s event and to register to participate.