User:DGG/talks/Washington 2015

= Decreasing Promotionalism to Save the Encyclopedia =

Why is this a problem:
Perception by most businessmen and professionals that a WP page is an essential part of their PR: Result: an industry of bad paid editing,
 * 1) Exposure given in Google
 * 2) general perception that WP is important.
 * 1) usually undeclared,
 * 2) most of it is so bad that it would be rejected  if properly disclosed).

The traditional justifications for a notability standard have been that it's necessary to

 * 1) look like a convention encyclopedia to show we're serious
 * 2) avoid becoming a mere directory.
 * 3) Now there's another reason more important than either: c) to avoid Promotionalism.


 * The inverse relationship between notability and Promotionalism:

The more notable, the less need for Promotionalism -- The less notable, the greater need for Promotionalism

The purpose of WP

 * 1) providing verifiable NPOV information for the readers.
 * 2) Definition:  Promotional editing--telling the reader what the subject wants them to know.

Encyclopedic editing--telling the reader what they might want to know from an encyclopedia.

Technical

 * 1) increased autoconfirmed level  --- not 4/10, but  30 days 100 edits? (TOR is 90 d/100)
 * 2) require all new eds to go thru AfC  "new" < 30/400
 * 3) unification of  NPP and AfC
 * 4) edit filters for key behavior

Administrative

 * 1) increase Checkuser scope: time, reasons
 * 2) establish undeclared paid editing as reason for banning
 * 3) retrospectively delete articles by banned paid editors
 * 4) require identification (??)

Policy /practice

 * 1) increase notability requirements for susceptible areas (e.g. organizations),
 * 2) interpret notability requirements more strictly in AfD.
 * 3) adjust definition of Reliable sources for notability:
 * 4) stop accepting bizjournals
 * 5) stop accepting sources talking only about motivation for founding
 * 6) stop accepting sources talking about only initial funding
 * 7) adjust content requirements
 * 8) limit officers listed, limit branches listed
 * 9) limit duplication : company vs ceo

Community

 * 1) Train editors screening in the area
 * 2) Guide editors writing in thearea
 * 3) Recruit interested editors