User:Rhododendrites/endorsements

RfC on inclusion criteria for lists of political endorsements
We have many stand-alone and embedded lists of political campaign endorsements (see for example, Category:2020 United States presidential election endorsements). The inclusion criteria of these lists are frequently debated, and the lists themselves subject to frequent additions based on unclear language published only on social media. This RfC attempts to create baseline inclusion criteria for such lists, which can be built upon as needed on article talk pages.

Discussions are sprawling across many articles and project pages. This list isn't intended to be exhaustive -- just those which were easily findable.


 * Talk:Endorsements_in_the_2016_Republican_Party_presidential_primaries/Archive_1
 * Talk:Endorsements_in_the_2020_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries
 * Talk:Endorsements_in_the_2017_United_Kingdom_general_election
 * Talk:Endorsements_in_the_2016_Republican_Party_presidential_primaries/Archive_1
 * Village_pump_(idea_lab)/Archive_7
 * Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Elections_and_Referendums/Archive_6 (related to above)
 * Talk:2016_Green_Party_of_England_and_Wales_leadership_election
 * Talk:List_of_Bernie_Sanders_2016_presidential_campaign_endorsements

The scope of this RfC is on lists of endorsements of political campaigns, whether stand-alone or part of another article. It does not apply to endorsements discussed outside of lists.

There are three proposals for inclusion criteria, which should be evaluated separately (one does not depend on the others). (If you would like to add to this list, please start a separate thread rather than add to this one).

1. Lists of endorsements should only include endorsements by notable people or organizations.
 * Note on #1: Whether or not it is necessary for the person to also have a Wikipedia article can be determined at the article level

2. Lists of endorsements should only include endorsements which have been covered by reliable independent sources.
 * Note on #2: This means endorsements should not be sourced solely to a Tweet or Instagram post, for example.

3. Lists of endorsements should only include endorsements which are specifically articulated as "endorsements".
 * Note on #3: Expressions of support, use of particular hashtags, comments about donating to a campaign, and other forms of praise of a candidate is often included as an "endorsement". Support of this criterion would require the endorsement be explicit. In most cases, this would require use of the word "endorsement" by the person endorsing or by media coverage thereof. Other language which can be understood as unequivocal endorsement can be discussed on a case-by-case basis (for example, "I am campaigning for Candidate X" or "I am backing Candidate X").