FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fourth annual gathering of the Netroots to be held August 13–16 in Pittsburgh, PA

July 21, 2008--Netroots Nation organizers announced today that the fourth annual gathering of the online progressive community will be held August 13–16, 2009, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

Convention organizers say Netroots Nation provides a unique opportunity to help build online and offline infrastructure in the host region, as well as in surrounding states like Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Michigan and New York.

“In Austin, we had a chance to work with a strong, vibrant Netroots community and get feedback from local activists,” said Interim Executive Director Raven Brooks. “In our new host city, we have the opportunity to not only bring together existing local and regional progressive communities, but also help create new ones.”

Pittsburgh is a leader in green building, touting the first and largest LEED certified convention center in the country. As part of newly announced effort to make Netroots Nation the most environmentally-sustainable bloggers gathering ever, organizers say they plan to introduce a carbon offset program in 2009. The city’s accessibility to rail travel will also cut down on the overall carbon footprint.

The city’s strong union presence and history and the convention center’s proximity to ample dining and accommodations options also weighed into the decision.

Netroots Nation, formerly known as the YearlyKos Convention, rebranded in August of 2007 in an effort to more accurately reflect the makeup of its audience and mission of implementing programs that teach and empower Netroots communities to affect change in the public sphere.

The third annual gathering was held in Austin and featured a surprise visit from Al Gore; an interactive Ask the Speaker session with Nancy Pelosi; keynotes with Howard Dean, Wesley Clark, Lawrence Lessig, Donna Edwards and Van Jones; and panels and workshops led by national and international experts.

Netroots Nation founder Gina Cooper stepped down as executive director last week. She will remain active on the Board of Directors.

For more information about Netroots Nation, visit www.netrootsnation.org.

ABOUT NETROOTS NATION
Netroots Nation amplifies progressive voices by providing an online and in-person campus for exchanging ideas and learning how to be more effective in using technology to influence the public debate. Within that campus, we strengthen community, inspire action and serve as an incubator for progressive ideas that challenge the status quo and ultimately affect change in the public sphere.

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