Wikipedia:Notability (media)/2021 rewrite

This guideline summarizes the existing overall consensus for media outlet notability. The scope of this page covers all forms of "traditional media"—including newspapers, magazines, radio, and television. Notability of websites is determined by referring to the guideline at Notability (web).

Simply stated, a media outlet is an organization formed to make some form of communication with a wider audience. This is often in the form of news and/or entertainment and may or may not be done for a profit.

Relation to general notability
A media outlet is presumed notable if it has been the subject of coverage in secondary sources. Such sources must be reliable and independent of the subject. The depth of coverage of the subject by the source must be considered. If the depth of coverage is not substantial, then multiple independent sources should be cited to establish notability. Trivial or incidental coverage of a subject by secondary sources is not sufficient to establish notability. Once notability is established, primary sources may be used to add content.

The "secondary sources" in the criterion include reliable published works in all forms, such as (for example) newspaper articles, books, television documentaries, and published reports by consumer watchdog organizations, except for the following:
 * Press releases; autobiographies; advertising for the outlet; and other works where the outlet talks about itself—whether published by the company itself or re-printed by other people. Self-published material or published at the direction of the subject of the article would be a primary source and falls under a different policy.
 * Works carrying merely trivial coverage; such as (for examples) the publications of telephone numbers, addresses, and directions in business directories, short listings in a national database.

Note that in certain countries where radio and television stations have call signs, Wikipedia titles our articles with the call sign rather than the on-air brand name. When searching for sources to improve the article, however, you will likely have to search on both names. (More information on titling can be found at Naming conventions (broadcasting).)

In the case of radio and television stations, the licensing documents from the appropriate regulatory agency (the FCC in the United States, the CRTC in Canada, Ofcom in the United Kingdom, etc.) are acceptable references for some facts—they may, in fact, be the only possible source for some details, such as the station's transmitter power. However, these sources do not constitute a permanent pass of this notability standard by themselves. Radio or television stations referenced only to the licensing documents themselves are granted a temporary presumption of notability pending the addition of better sources, but are not granted a permanent exemption from ever having to cite improved sourcing—even if the licensing documents are cited in the article, it may still be deleted in the future if real media sources simply cannot be found.

Other methods of presuming notability for media related topics are listed below.

Why separate criteria
Many of the reliable sources used on Wikipedia come from the media, especially about current topics. However, the media does not often report on itself. It is not often that one media outlet will give neutral attention to another, as this could be seen as "advertising for the competition". Also, when searching for sources on media outlets, the results are often pages produced by the outlet, making it difficult to find significant coverage in multiple sources.

As media outlets are themselves a significant proportion of our sources for other content, however, it serves an important purpose for Wikipedia to provide neutral and verifiable information about those sources so that readers are able to evaluate their reliability and scope.

Nothing in this document, however, is to be understood as extending media topics an exemption from having to cite any sourcing at all. The basic claim of notability must be verifiable in at least one reliable source which is independent of the topic itself before the presumption of notability is granted. A media topic's own self-published content about itself is not sufficient sourcing to get the presumption of notability; for instance, a radio or television station is not presumed notable just because it has a website or a social media presence. People have sometimes created fake web content for the purposes of "verifying" a hoax topic into Wikipedia, including fake radio and television stations, so notability remains dependent on independent verification in unaffiliated sources.

Subject-specific notability
The following criteria have been developed by a consensus of Wikipedians and are considered standards to use when considering the notability of media related topics. Failure to meet these criteria is not conclusive proof that a topic should not be included; conversely, meeting one or more does not guarantee that a topic should be included.

Newspapers, magazines and journals
Notability is presumed for newspapers, magazines and journals that verifiably meet through reliable sources, one or more of the following criteria:
 * 1) have produced work that has received a well-known and significant journalism award or honor or has been nominated for such an award several times
 * 2) have served some sort of historic purpose or have a significant history
 * 3) are considered by reliable sources to be authoritative or influential in their subject area
 * 4) are frequently cited by other reliable sources
 * 5) are significant publications in ethnic and other non-trivial niche markets

Publications that primarily carry advertising and only have trivial content may have relevant details merged to an article on their publisher or an equivalent sister newspaper (if notable).

Broadcast media
Broadcast radio and television stations must meet the general notability guideline. They are likely to do so if they verifiably meet, through reliable sources, one or more of a variety of factors, such as importance to and history in the station's market or originating some of its own programming. A brief explanation of the broadcast market may be needed in the guideline for editors to make informed decisions.

Broadcast (terrestrial) television stations
The vast majority of over-the-air television stations serve a large regional market, often covering hundreds of thousands or millions of households, and typically pass the general notability guideline.

Television stations that are generally non-notable include the following:


 * Translator or relay stations, whether on full-service or translator licenses, which are fully dedicated to rebroadcasting the output of another station or a national service without significant local content (aside from potentially commercials and news inserts) (Examples: CFCN-DT-5 in CFCN-DT, many stations in Azteca 7)
 * Proposed stations which never broadcast, unless coverage of such passes the notability guideline for organizations and corporations. A service about to launch should not get an article until a confirmed launch date has been announced.
 * Subchannels of individual digital television stations, which should be mentioned in the main article. If the subchannel merely carries a multicast network such as Antenna TV, mention should be minimal in the article. (Example: TVW in WISC-TV)

A station which was formerly an originating station in its own right but which now exists only as a rebroadcaster of another service is treated as an originating station because of its history. (Example: KNAT-TV, XHJUB-TDT)

Broadcast radio stations
A licensed broadcast radio station must meet the general notability guideline. It is likely to do so if it fulfills both of the following:


 * Has an established broadcasting history: the station must have been constructed, begun broadcasting, and received its permanent operating authorization from the relevant authority, not merely having been authorized for construction.
 * Originates (or has originated) at least some of its own programming.

If multiple stations in the same general region or country broadcast the same service but have no independent programming history, a general article about the service, with a table of transmitters, is advisable. (Examples: LifeTalk Radio, Wawatay Native Communications Society; List of K-Love stations, which is a standalone list due to its size)

Radio stations that are generally non-notable include the following:


 * Travelers' information stations (highway advisory radio, also found in parks and airports): these may redirect to an article about the highway or operator.
 * Translator or relay stations, whether as full-service repeaters or translator licenses fully dedicated to rebroadcasting the output of another station or a national service without significant local content, aside from potential commercial inserts or newscasts.
 * Proposed stations which never broadcast, unless coverage of such passes the general notability guideline. An article should generally not be created on a station until it begins broadcasting, not when a construction permit is issued.
 * Internet, carrier current and unlicensed (pirate) stations, unless coverage of such passes the general notability guideline (Examples: Ordentlig Radio, Radio Caroline)
 * Temporary stations authorized under such schemes as a Restricted Service Licence, unless coverage of such passes the general notability guideline. (Example: Sunrise Radio (Ireland))

A station which was formerly an originating station in its own right but which now exists only as a rebroadcaster of another service is treated as an originating station because of its history. In some cases, particularly outside of North America, the article may only cover the period in which it originated programming. (Examples: WRQM, WKVB (FM), BBC Dorset FM)

In the United States, some translators are used to rebroadcast HD Radio subchannels of other stations which together constitute a unique program service. These may be mentioned in a section in the main station article or in a separate article, depending on the available coverage in reliable sources and their notability. (Example: WMMS-HD2, W233BF)

Pay television and radio services
Most national and regional pay television (cable, satellite, linear streaming) services are considered notable, as they are likely to meet the general notability guideline.


 * If a channel is a timeshift channel, e.g. ITV +1, its existence should be mentioned in the article of the parent service.
 * If a channel originates little programming and is part of a large bouquet, it may qualify to be redirected to the article on the suite of channels (e.g. Zee Cinemalu redirects to Zee TV).
 * National and regional public access and legislative broadcasters are generally notable, though a local governmental access channel generally is not unless it meets the notability guideline for organizations and corporations. (The primary difference from the GNG in this case is that frequent attention solely from local media is not an indication of notability.)

Most individual channels on a cable or satellite radio service are generally not notable unless they meet the general notability guideline. (The service provider as a whole, such as Sirius XM, is most likely notable.)

Student media
Student media, such as over-the-air college radio stations run by students and student newspapers, are not presumed non-notable just because they primarily serve a university or college student population, but are judged by the same inclusion standards as any other media outlet. A student newspaper or radio station which is deemed non-notable should always be redirected to the college or university that it serves.

Programming
Generally, an individual radio or television program is likely to be notable if it airs on a network of radio or television stations (either national or regional in scope), or on a cable television channel with a broad regional or national audience. It is far less likely to be notable if it airs in only one local media market.

In either case, however, the presence or absence of reliable sources is more definitive than the geographic range of the program's audience alone. For instance, a purely local talk radio program might be notable enough for inclusion if it played a solidly sourceable role in exposing a major political scandal, and a national television program might not be notable if it was cancelled too quickly to have garnered any media coverage.

Television pilots that have not been picked up to series are not normally eligible for Wikipedia articles—in most cases, a television series is not eligible for an article until its scheduling as an ongoing series has been formally confirmed by a television network or streaming provider (for instance, it has been announced at an entity's upfront presentation as being scheduled and advanced to series, a promotional trailer has been released, and/or it has a scheduled premiere date). A mere announcement that a pilot is in development may be noted in the Wikipedia articles about its creators, writers or confirmed cast members, but absent significant evidence that the pilot has notability for reasons beyond simple confirmation of its existence, the announcement itself is not sufficient basis for a standalone article about the pilot. An unaired pilot, such as Aquaman or Marvel's Most Wanted, can qualify for an article should there be significant reliable sources covering the development and other production aspects of the pilot independent of its own marketing materials.

Care must also be taken with projects that have been announced to series and started filming; 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic saw the unexpected start of the "un-renewal" concept, where a series confirmed to launch or being renewed is instead cancelled by the network or streamer for economic reasons (such was the case for On Becoming a God in Central Florida, which was cancelled after being officially renewed for its second season, or Flack, whose second season American launch on Pop was scuttled days before despite filming being completely finished, leaving it to wait to launch several months later on Prime Video).

A television or radio station's article should not contain a comprehensive listing of the station's entire broadcast schedule. Basic schedule information for major programming blocks, such as the core prime time schedule of a national television network, may be provided in appropriate articles—but as Wikipedia is not an electronic program guide, this schedule should not be updated every week with specials or temporary programming changes. Content that describes a station's programming in greater depth is permitted, as long as it is properly sourced and consists of more than just a list of the hosts' names. Syndicated programs on an individual station's schedule should be limited to around five to six programs with a wide following (for instance, a mention of a television station carrying Judge Judy or Jeopardy!, or for radio, a mention of the station carrying the "standard" Premiere Radio Networks schedule of conservative talk programming is appropriate, while generally detailed information about a low-profile program such as Made in Hollywood or other non-prime programming on the station is best avoided).

Radio programming text without television
Generally, an individual radio or television program is likely to be notable if it airs on a network of radio or television stations (either national or regional in scope). It is far less likely to be notable if it airs in only one local media market; however, the presence or absence of reliable sources is more definitive than the geographic range of the program's audience alone.

A radio station's article should not contain a comprehensive listing of the station's entire broadcast schedule. It can, however, describe programs the station originates—as long as such information is properly sourced and in-depth—and briefly mention syndicated programs it airs.

Note that podcasts fall under the guidelines of Notability (web).

Lists
Lists of a particular type of media outlet (e.g. "List of radio stations in X", "List of newspapers in Y") should exist only at the country or first-order divisional (state, province, etc.) level. Individual cities or extended media markets are permitted "Media in (City)" lists which have subsections for radio, television and print media in that particular city, but should not have separate lists for each individual type of media.

For example, a separate "List of radio stations in Louisville, Kentucky" should not be created, but Media in Louisville, Kentucky, combining local radio, television and newspaper lists into a single article, is valid.

The channel lineup of a national service, such as a direct broadcast satellite company which offers the same channel lineup in all areas it serves, may be valid content. However, do not create articles listing an individual cable company's channel lineup in a local market.

Categories
Subcategories by geographical division may be created where appropriate (e.g. Category:Radio stations in Oregon, Category:Television stations in Ontario). Where such categories are used, create a comprehensive set for all appropriate divisions, regardless of the number of stations in any individual state or province, and then use the state/province categories instead of the country category. Such categories may also be further subdivided by city or market where numbers warrant; however, at the city level it is not mandatory to diffuse all stations out of the state/province category. That is, Category:Radio stations in Oregon may include subcategories for major radio markets, but does not require subcategories for small towns which only have one local radio station.

Subcategories by genre, network or ownership group may also be created (e.g. Category:College radio stations in the United States, Category:CTV Television Network stations). However, do not combine geographical and non-geographical subcategories — for instance, do not create third-level subcategories for "College radio stations in Oregon" or "CTV network stations in Ontario".

Non-notable media
Media outlets that are not notable may still have some information about them included, if properly verifiable, in related articles such as their parent company or organization or in lists based on location, service or format. The list can include all verifiable information about each outlet. If/when an outlet becomes notable enough for its own article, its entry in the list should be reduced to only the most basic information, with a link to the article.