Wikipedia:Mediation Cabal/Cases/2009-07-08/California Department of Public Health

Where is the dispute?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Department_of_Public_Health

Who is involved?
A short list of the users involved, for example;
 * Nihonjoe
 * NathanoNL
 * CDPHOPA (myself)

What is the dispute?
I am an employee in the Office of Public Affairs for the California Dept. of Public Health. My department, CDPH, had an existing entry on wikipedia. I created a username (CDPHOPA) and added content, including material that was pasted from my agency's website. I have permission to use this material.

My entry/account has been flagged for using copywrited material, username violations and COI.

- Copywrited material. The State of California owns the material. I work for the State of California and have permission to reprint this information on the wikipedia website.

- Username violation. I created a username that includes my employer's acronym (CDPH) because I want the public to know who posted some of the information. I am trying to maintain transparency. I would like to be able to keep this username, or one similar to provide additional information to Wikipedia users.

Conflict of Interest: Wikipedia's guidelines say it is OK for employees to write about their businesses. I did not create a Wikipedia entry, I merely provided more information about the entry in an unbiased and neutral way. The information I posted was about the various programs and services of CDPH, a public agency. I feel it is important for the public to know what CDPH does, especially since CDPH can be a resource for important health information.

I am not trying to promote a business or product. I am trying to provide health information (and resource information) to Wikipedia users.

I did not delete any existing information.

What would you like to change about this?
1) I would like to retain my current username and account, CDPHOPA

2) I would like my originally posted entry, including text from my agency's website, to be allowed.

3) I would like to be allowed to add additional content about our programs and services in the future.

4) I would like Wikipedia to create guidelines for government agencies that are specific to government.

How do you think we can help?
I would like a mediator to look at my case and help to resolve it, preferably with the 4 changes outlined above.

Mediator notes
Hi everyone; My name's GrooveDog (talk) (Review) and I've volunteered to help mediate your case. One of my personal terms for mediations is that all parties agree to the mediation here, otherwise it's a one-sided argument which isn't too fair. Please sign your names with four tildes underneath this post. :-) GrooveDog (talk) (Review) 03:48, 15 July 2009 (UTC)