I’m in the Allen Room panel discussion called Mastering the New World of Online Political Video. Steve Grove of YouTube and the Why Tuesday? advisory board is moderating. NewsBusters, Brave New Films and TPM TV are the panelists. I’m speaking in the Idea Market during the next session. My bit is called Using Online Video for Grassroots Organizing.

Barnett Zitron, Why Tuesday? Managing Director, and I at Personal Democracy Forum 2008, the conference about how technology is changing politics. Follow along via Why Tuesday? on Twitter.

I’ll be at Personal Democracy Forum 2008 in New York next week, both for Why Tuesday? as a participant in the Idea Market, and in my role as vlogger for NPR Sunday Soapbox. I’ll be there alongside Weekend Edition Sunday Senior Supervisory Producer Davar Ardalan to bring you the best of the conference, including, perhaps, some interviews with web, political and other bigshots.

Here’s the info straight from the PDF folks:

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.

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 Frederick P. Rose Hall, the home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Photo of Personal Democracy Forum 2007 via Ed Falk on Flickr.

That’s the quote that ends today’s New York Times article about 115,000 ex-felons in Florida getting their voting rights back.

If you listen to NPR’s coverage, you’ll learn that in all but three states felons get their voting rights back after their sentences are completed. You’ll also find out how the new rules of re-enfranchisement work in Florida.

NBC News Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert’s death has touched us deeply. Some members of our team were lucky to meet Russert in person this January in Iowa, a day before the historic Iowa caucuses.

Thomas Macker, Thomas Rossmeissl, Barnett Zitron and I were at the Polk County Convention Center in Des Monies where most news organizations were filing and broadcasting from in advance of the first presidential contest in the United States.

In the late afternoon, as we stood in the hallway of the giant complex, Russert walked by with a small NBC entourage.

“Mr. Russert!” I called out.

“Gotta do Nightly News,” he said, as he picked up his pace and headed into the main hall from where Brian Williams was broadcasting that night. He then turned and shouted: “But maybe on the way back!”

Sure enough, Russert came back talked with us after he finished Nightly News. He shared insights on everything from his feelings about the state of the voting system to his famous line, “Florida! Florida! Florida!”

This Father’s Day, team Why Tuesday? honors a man whose gregariousness and graciousness we experienced firsthand. He is someone we will always to look up to, someone whose standards we will aim to meet, and whose style we will aim to emulate.

A favorite vlog of Barnett and I both is EPIC FU, arguably the web’s greatest variety program. Host Zadi Diaz, Steve Woolf, Rick Rey, and the entire EPIC FU team have been great about showing Why Tuesday? love, and the feeling is mutual. They just re-launched their vlog as part of the Revision3 network and we’re the “Fu of the Week” in their second episode back. Congrats to the EPIC FU team on the new setup, and thanks to them for having me on to spread the word. To see my portion of the episode, fast forward to the 4:00 mark.

NEW YORK, NY — Last night I spoke to our fellow Webby nominees and notables on the red carpet in New York City about what is hot in politics online, and it’s not just Obama Girl. Efforts like ours using citizen journalism on the campaign trail to bring attention to oft-ignored issues was a hot topic.

I’ve been getting many, many e-mails over the last few hours about CNN contributor Roland Martin’s opinion piece on CNN.com titled “We should vote on the first Saturday in November.” CNN is running a “quick vote” to see what viewers think about moving Election Day to increase voter turnout, and it looks like CNN viewers like the idea.

I just e-mailed Martin to see if he knows about our efforts. Will keep you posted and let you know if he gets back to me. To read his piece, click here.

Here’s a shot from the Film Your Issue awards Friday night at Sony Studios in Culver City. Kirk Douglas received a special award, and is at center in the photo. I’m all the way at right.

The Webby Awards are tonight in NYC and I’ll be there. Why Tuesday? is the only non-mainstream nominee in the best politics blog category. The Huffington Post won — both in the public voting and voting by judges — but we are honored to be in such distinguished company.

I accepted the Film Your Issue “Issue to Action” award on behalf of team Why Tuesday? last night at Sony Studios in Culver City. Here it is in front of the Why Tuesday? Twitter page on my desk.