PodCamp

a New Media UnConference


The PodCamp Foundation was formed in 2006 by social media evangelists Christopher Penn and Chris Brogan, as a framework for allowing podcasters, bloggers and other interested parties to meet and share knowledge. The Foundation was an outgrowth of PodCamp Boston, held in Setember of 2006 at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, Massachusetts.

PodCamps have since happened (or are currently scheduled) in Germany, Sweden, Australia, Brazil, Second Life, South Africa, Canada, Spain, Ireland and across the United States.

The most notable difference between PodCamp and other Social Media conferences is its adherence to the UnConference model, wherein the participants are responsible for providing all content presented.

If "pod" and "camp" were to be put aside for a moment, the most important and valuable lessons contained within the PodCamp experience are these:

  • Individuals are important. YOU have the power to create an event, educate each other, and you don't need anyone's permission.
  • Lightweight planning and structure doesn't lead to anarchy. Instead, people self-organize rather well.
  • All of us are responsible for the success of these events.
  • Building a human network is core to continuing your social media learning experience.
  • Anyone can create an event like this for any subject matter. The bare bones of the idea married to passion is what matters.

There are six defining rules governing the use of the term 'PodCamp'.  From  Podcamp.Org:

There are 6 rules which govern what may or may not be called a PodCamp. If your planned event meets all 6 and accepts the terms in the PodCamp Foundation License, you can call it a PodCamp.

  1. All attendees must be treated equally. Everyone is a rockstar.
  2. All content created must be released under a Creative Commons license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
  3. All attendees must be allowed to participate. (subject to limitations of physical space, of course)
  4. All sessions must obey the Law of 2 Feet - if you're not getting what you want out of the session, you can and should walk out and do something else. It's not like you have to get your money's worth!
  5. The event must be new-media focused - blogging, podcasting, video on the net.
  6. The financials of a PodCamp must be fully disclosed in an open ledger, except for any donor/sponsor who wishes to remain anonymous.

Additionally, sessions and events are strongly encouraged to be free of cost to attend to allow as many people to attend as possible. (Some PodCamps started charging a small commitment fee to insure against no-shows and to better facilitate venue planning.)

Previous PodCamps (as of 7/28/08)



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Kevin Kennedy-Spaien
Kevin Kennedy-Spaien
Social Media Consultant/Producer
Massachusetts, USA
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