User:Vassyana/insanity/Notability 001


 * Changes made in sandbox.

Within Wikipedia, notability is an inclusion criterion based on encyclopedic suitability of a topic for a Wikipedia article. This concept is distinct from "fame", "importance", or "popularity", although these may correlate with notability. If an article currently does not cite reliable secondary sources that are independent of the subject, that does not necessarily mean the topic is not notable. However, notability is based upon the reasonable presumption that enough sources exist to craft a complete article. Notability only pertains to the suitability of topics for articles but does not affect article content.

General notability guideline
If a topic has received significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject, it is presumed to be notable.


 * A subject that is presumed to be notable may still not be worthy of inclusion if it fails What Wikipedia is not.


 * Not all coverage in reliable sources constitutes evidence of notability for the purposes of article creation; for example, directories and databases, advertisements, announcements columns, and minor news stories are all examples of coverage that may not support notability.


 * Sources must address the subject directly in detail, and no original research is needed to extract the content.


 * Availability of independent sources covering the subject is a good test for notability.


 * Self-promotion, autobiography, and product placement are not the routes to having an encyclopedia article. The published works should be someone else writing independently about the topic. Works produced by the subject, or those with a strong connection to them, are unlikely to be strong evidence of interest by the world at large.


 * Enough sources should exist in order to guarantee a neutral article can be written.

Notability requires objective evidence
Notability requires verifiable objective evidence to support a disputed claim of notability. Substantial coverage in reliable, independent sources is the principal form of such evidence. Wikipedia is not a news source: it takes more than just a short burst of news reports about a single event or topic to constitute evidence of sufficient notability. The Wikimedia project Wikinews covers topics of present news coverage.

Articles not satisfying the notability guidelines
If an article fails to demonstrate the notability of its subject, look for sources yourself, or:
 * Ask the article's creator for sources.
 * Put the notability tag on the article to alert other editors.
 * Use the PROJECT-NAME tag with a specific WikiProject to attract editors knowledgeable about that field.

If appropriate sources cannot be found, consider merging the article's content into a broader article providing context. Otherwise:
 * If the article meets our criteria for speedy deletion, one can use a deletion tag listed on that page.
 * Use the prod tag for articles that do not meet the criteria for speedy deletion, but are uncontroversial deletion candidates. This allows the article to be deleted after five days if nobody objects.
 * Otherwise, or if unsure, nominate the article for the deletion, where consensus can be reached regarding deletion.

Notability is not temporary
Clearly established notability does not expire, but substantial coverage over a period of time is still required. Also, articles should not be written based on speculation that the topic may receive additional coverage in the future, as we only consider existing reliable sources.

Notability does not limit article content
Notability guidelines give guidance on whether a topic is notable enough to be included in Wikipedia as a separate article, but do not specifically regulate the content of articles. Individual facts and subtopics within an article are governed by content policy, not notability.