Here's a peek at the emerging program for this year's fifth annual Personal Democracy Forum, which is coming up this June 23-24 in New York City. We're pretty excited about the line-up that's taking shape (and the fact that this is the first year we're expanding to two days). Plus we think that this year's event is going to be a seminal moment in defining the Internet's impact in opening up not only politics, but also governance (i.e., all the important stuff that happens after the election is over).

Want to win a free pass to PdF 2008? Send us your ideas...

Today we’re happy to announce a new PdF book project called Rebooting America: Democracy in the 21st Century, an anthology of essays from leading thinkers and activists (check out the impressive list here) that we'll be publishing to coincide with this year's Personal Democracy Forum conference June 23-24 in New York City.

Technology and the Internet are changing politics — now more than ever. Over the last five years, Personal Democracy Forum (PdF) has become the seminal gathering place for the growing community of people who understand the effects underway, and want to make sure they stay on top of what’s coming next.

We're proud to announce that this year PdF will be bigger and better than before—we're expanding to two full days at a spectacular new venue overlooking Central Park, at Rose Hall, the home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Register now for two days of Personal Democracy Forum for the early-bird price of only $595. That's $100 off the regular price, and it includes access to all the sessions, breakfast, lunch, an open-bar cocktail reception and unlimited networking.

The 2008 election has shown that the Internet has become the central battlefield for campaigns, from the presidential race on down. So, on the first day of PdF 2008, we're going to focus on how technology is changing the electoral process. But we all know that no matter who is elected, big changes are also coming in how government uses technology to serve or connect with the public. That's why we're adding a whole second day to the PdF agenda, devoted to how technology is changing governance and civic action.

Who’s coming? Leaders from the world of technology, politics, journalism, blogging, and activism. Stay tuned for details. We're going to be blogging here about the conference as it takes shape, sharing our thoughts as we plan panels and introducing the many terrific speakers we're lining up.

Topics we'll be covering:

* The top political technology applications of 2008 * Open fundraising and how to create internet “money bombs” * Mastering the new videosphere of YouTube, MySpace and Yahoo Video * Engaging and mobilizing young voters online * Bloggers as pundits, pundits as bloggers * Converting online supporters into on-the-ground volunteers * Polling and its discontents* The inside scoop on what worked and what didn't from the Presidential campaigns * The coming of “Wiki Government” * Hyperpeople and hyperpolitics * Creating better debates with and without television * The cross-partisan politics of transparency * The changing role of the net-roots and the right-roots * Embracing voter-generated content * The internet's revolutionary power overseas * Creating national tech policies * Social technology and how the internet can save the planet * The rise of dynamic data-driven journalism

Check out this short highlight video from last year’s conference for a sample of what to expect.

Again, register now to take advantage of the early-bird pricing.

P.S. Check out that view, and imagine that same view in June!