Wikipedia:Press coverage 2008

January

 * The launch of Wikia gets extensive reportage in the media with frequent mention of its relationship to Wikipedia. Many are critical.
 * Financial Times, Business Week, Reuters, BBC News
 * Financial Times, Business Week, Reuters, BBC News


 * Interview with Florence Devouard, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Discusses the future development of Wikipedia.
 * Interview with Florence Devouard, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Discusses the future development of Wikipedia.

February









 * "The popular online encyclopaedia Wikipedia has come to play an important role in informing and also shaping public debates. Yet as a Florida-based, US creation, it brings its own baggage to those debates. US corporate media sources (Time, CNN, Fox, and so on) are privileged as reliable and “neutral” sources in Wiki entries, despite the fact that many of these bodies are intimately involved in many of the most contentious public debates, such as privatisation, intervention and war."


 * Continuing The Register's singular coverage of Wikipedia, the article alleges that User:Jossi has a conflict of interest with respect to Conflict of interest/Noticeboard and Prem Rawat. Discussion of the matter is available from the WP:COI archives
 * Continuing The Register's singular coverage of Wikipedia, the article alleges that User:Jossi has a conflict of interest with respect to Conflict of interest/Noticeboard and Prem Rawat. Discussion of the matter is available from the WP:COI archives


 * Unfortunately, this one isn't available on Inquire's web site, I checked. This is the student newspaper of the University of Kent at Canterbury. After admitting he was a vandal on Wikipedia, he goes on to talk about professors who ban Wikipedia and Google for research purposes and cites one Professor Tara Brabazon of the University of Brighton who not only bans Wikipedia and Google for research purposes, but also provides her students with excerpts to replace such research. By the way, the bad punctuation and grammar in the quote is copied directly from the printed version.
 * Unfortunately, this one isn't available on Inquire's web site, I checked. This is the student newspaper of the University of Kent at Canterbury. After admitting he was a vandal on Wikipedia, he goes on to talk about professors who ban Wikipedia and Google for research purposes and cites one Professor Tara Brabazon of the University of Brighton who not only bans Wikipedia and Google for research purposes, but also provides her students with excerpts to replace such research. By the way, the bad punctuation and grammar in the quote is copied directly from the printed version.


 * Discusses Larry Sanger's speech at the Eastern Michigan University
 * Discusses Larry Sanger's speech at the Eastern Michigan University


 * An in-depth analysis on the Spanish article and other related articles in English and other Wikipedias.
 * An in-depth analysis on the Spanish article and other related articles in English and other Wikipedias.


 * Analysis on the possible future oligopolies on the net and its effect on censorship, comparing large web corporations to Wikipedia on the issue.
 * Analysis on the possible future oligopolies on the net and its effect on censorship, comparing large web corporations to Wikipedia on the issue.


 * About the Corey Worthington article. This article is now gone; see Articles for deletion/Corey Worthington (2nd nomination).
 * About the Corey Worthington article. This article is now gone; see Articles for deletion/Corey Worthington (2nd nomination).




 * Refers to a posting on ON LINE Opinion in which a lecturer at the School of Political Economy, Sydney University fulminates at a reversion of content, having declined the opportunity to discuss the issue on the article talk page.
 * Refers to a posting on ON LINE Opinion in which a lecturer at the School of Political Economy, Sydney University fulminates at a reversion of content, having declined the opportunity to discuss the issue on the article talk page.


 * A wiki skeptic considers why Wikipedia works and why its success may only be short term.
 * A wiki skeptic considers why Wikipedia works and why its success may only be short term.


 * A discussion of the anonymous nature of posting on wikipedia, and its effects, focussing on User:Griot.
 * A discussion of the anonymous nature of posting on wikipedia, and its effects, focussing on User:Griot.


 * A Yale professor and a lawyer consider how even static copies of wikipedia are a revolutionary concept.
 * A Yale professor and a lawyer consider how even static copies of wikipedia are a revolutionary concept.


 * Brockhaus, the most popular Encylopedia in Germany ceases paper publication because of competition from online information sources, specifically German Wikipedia.
 * Brockhaus, the most popular Encylopedia in Germany ceases paper publication because of competition from online information sources, specifically German Wikipedia.


 * A professor says banning Wikipedia is not "just a silly policy", but "It is irresponsible for educational institutions not to teach new knowledge technologies such as Wikipedia."
 * A professor says banning Wikipedia is not "just a silly policy", but "It is irresponsible for educational institutions not to teach new knowledge technologies such as Wikipedia."


 * The piece isn't about Wikipedia per se, but it is quite relevant. It discusses the encyclopedia building process in wikipedia at present and speculates how it might evolve in the future. via guardian article
 * The piece isn't about Wikipedia per se, but it is quite relevant. It discusses the encyclopedia building process in wikipedia at present and speculates how it might evolve in the future. via guardian article


 * "CEDAR RAPIDS, IA—Blake Yardley, 34, told reporters Monday that he felt extremely humbled to have been the individual who, amidst the chaos and sadness of actor Heath Ledger's recent untimely passing, had the foresight and due reverence to add the death date to the star's Wikipedia page." (Note that The Onion is a parody newspaper publishing satirical articles.)
 * "CEDAR RAPIDS, IA—Blake Yardley, 34, told reporters Monday that he felt extremely humbled to have been the individual who, amidst the chaos and sadness of actor Heath Ledger's recent untimely passing, had the foresight and due reverence to add the death date to the star's Wikipedia page." (Note that The Onion is a parody newspaper publishing satirical articles.)


 * More on the petition to remove images of the Prophet Muhammad.
 * More on the petition to remove images of the Prophet Muhammad.


 * Iranian news agency reports that an unnamed cultural official in Iran has called for a boycott in Islamic countries of Wikipedia due to their inclusion of the Danish cartoons caricaturing Muhammad. In this article it is claimed that "Wikipedia website servers are in the American state of Florida but it is apparently run from Britain."
 * Iranian news agency reports that an unnamed cultural official in Iran has called for a boycott in Islamic countries of Wikipedia due to their inclusion of the Danish cartoons caricaturing Muhammad. In this article it is claimed that "Wikipedia website servers are in the American state of Florida but it is apparently run from Britain."


 * France's most popular paper encyclopedia delays its next edition because of a sudden drop in demand attributed to the French Wikipedia. (See Quid (encyclopedia))
 * France's most popular paper encyclopedia delays its next edition because of a sudden drop in demand attributed to the French Wikipedia. (See Quid (encyclopedia))




 * Discussion of the power structure in Wikipedia and Digg.
 * Discussion of the power structure in Wikipedia and Digg.




 * In an interview Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the world wide web, gives his view of Wikipedia.
 * In an interview Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the world wide web, gives his view of Wikipedia.


 * A UK government minister is questioned in the House of Commons about his department's role in editing Wikipedia. The exchange is recorded in Hansard the official record of the Commons.
 * A UK government minister is questioned in the House of Commons about his department's role in editing Wikipedia. The exchange is recorded in Hansard the official record of the Commons.




 * "A police chief has ordered staff to monitor an online enyclopaedia in order to stop users posting rude comments about him."
 * "A police chief has ordered staff to monitor an online enyclopaedia in order to stop users posting rude comments about him."




 * "[Fielding's] age has been the subject of some debate. She says she was 73 in November. Enemies, some of whom appear to have tampered with her Wikipedia entry, ungallantly ' assert that she has been with us slightly longer than that." (See also: discussion at Fielding's year of birth.)
 * "[Fielding's] age has been the subject of some debate. She says she was 73 in November. Enemies, some of whom appear to have tampered with her Wikipedia entry, ungallantly ' assert that she has been with us slightly longer than that." (See also: discussion at Fielding's year of birth.)

March



 * Baker (User:Wageless) reviews Wikipedia - The Missing Manual and ruminates on his experience and impressions as a user of and contributor to the encyclopaedia


 * One of the many reports of the consequences of the end of an affair between Rachel Marsden and Jimmy Wales. A write up of the story is available on the Wikipedia Signpost. Other outlets picking up the story include:
 * ABC News: Wikipedia Founder Hit With Relationship Trouble, Allegations of Excessive Spending
 * Daily Mail: Dumped Dot Com: How Wikipedia founder used his website to break off relationship - and how she used eBay to get revenge
 * The Globe and Mail: Ms. Marsden's cyberspace breakup: tit-for-tat-for-T-shirt
 * Metro: Dumped on Wikipedia, revenge on eBay
 * New York Post: ONE WILD AND WIKI BREAKUP
 * The Province: Spurned Rachel Marsden selling 'ex-boyfriend's' stuff on eBay
 * The Sun: Wiki love-split cyber storm
 * Sydney Morning Herald: Ex takes her revenge on Mr Wikipedia
 * telegraph.co.uk: Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales in online love spat
 * The Times: Fury of a woman scorned – on Wikipedia
 * Winnipeg Sun: Pundit peddles ex's items online
 * Winnipeg Sun: Pundit peddles ex's items online


 * A report combining the Rachel Marsden incident with postings by Danny Wool on his blog. A write up of the story is available on the Wikipedia Signpost. Other outlets picking up the story include:
 * The Associated Press, as reported in The Washington Post: Wikipedia's Wales Hit Over Expenses
 * The Register: Ex-Wikipedia staffer harpoons Wales over expenses
 * San Francisco Chronicle: Allegations swirl around Wikipedia's Wales
 * News.com: Wikimedia executive comes to Wales defense
 * News.com: Wikimedia executive comes to Wales defense


 * Asks if Wikipedia is becoming a victim of its own success and wonders if the fact that Britannica was always a little bit out of date was its main strength. A response to this piece was made:
 * Asks if Wikipedia is becoming a victim of its own success and wonders if the fact that Britannica was always a little bit out of date was its main strength. A response to this piece was made:


 * "The popular online encyclopedia, written by volunteer contributors, has unlimited space. So does it matter if it includes trivia?."
 * "The popular online encyclopedia, written by volunteer contributors, has unlimited space. So does it matter if it includes trivia?."


 * Argues that the demand for reliable information will work against sites like Wikipedia to take traffic to new sites like Knol that pay professional experts to edit and produce online content. It calls this move Web 3.0.
 * Argues that the demand for reliable information will work against sites like Wikipedia to take traffic to new sites like Knol that pay professional experts to edit and produce online content. It calls this move Web 3.0.




 * Looks at how Wkipedia's budget is run on a shoestring. Includes an interview with Wikimedia Foundation, Executive Director Sue Gardner.
 * Looks at how Wkipedia's budget is run on a shoestring. Includes an interview with Wikimedia Foundation, Executive Director Sue Gardner.


 * discusses deletion and protection of by User:Jimbo Wales allegedly in return for donations.  Merkey has alleged on the Wikia mailing list  that I am notifying the foundation I was approached on Friday by the Associated Press regarding statements attributed to me which are in some way, perceived to be related to Mr. Wales private affairs which seem to have gotten a great deal of press coverage ... he then follows with a statement to Associated Press which includes the assertion: According to Merkey, in 2006, Wales agreed that in exchange for a substantial donation and other financial support of the Wikimedia Foundation projects, Wales would use his influence to make Merkey's article adhere to Wikipedia's stated policies with regard to internet libel "as a courtesty" [sic] and place Merkey under his "special protection" as an editor.  The newspaper article links to the wikia mailing list thread and also to the revision history of the article.
 * Associated Press do not appear to have picked up Merkey's press release and only a few independent news sources have also mentioned the incident. Wales responded on the mailing list that the allegation is nonsense and this too was reported by the SMH  although noting The claim is the most damning yet against Wales
 * Similar story at
 * Same incident covered by BBC News --
 * Same incident covered by BBC News --


 * "A group of excellent scientists" are involved in battle with the prestigeous science publisher Physical Review Letters over their right to also publish the material in a rights agreement compatible with Wikipedia.
 * "A group of excellent scientists" are involved in battle with the prestigeous science publisher Physical Review Letters over their right to also publish the material in a rights agreement compatible with Wikipedia.


 * Looks at the world wide demise of print encyclopedias and how Wikipedia has come to dominate.
 * Looks at the world wide demise of print encyclopedias and how Wikipedia has come to dominate.


 * General article about Wales and recent controversies such as Marsden, Danny Wool's allegations and Wales' relationship with Roger McNamee and Elevation Partners.
 * General article about Wales and recent controversies such as Marsden, Danny Wool's allegations and Wales' relationship with Roger McNamee and Elevation Partners.


 * Compares ten articles in world and US history with their equivalents in Britannica.
 * Compares ten articles in world and US history with their equivalents in Britannica.






 * Reviews two up-coming books: Nicholas Carr's The Big Switch and Clay Shirky's Here Comes Everybody.
 * Reviews two up-coming books: Nicholas Carr's The Big Switch and Clay Shirky's Here Comes Everybody.


 * In the last six months Wikipedia has become the first choice for music fans seeking information on artists because of its tight, focused and vetted overview of the subject.
 * In the last six months Wikipedia has become the first choice for music fans seeking information on artists because of its tight, focused and vetted overview of the subject.




 * Further coverage at:
 * Sloan Foundation to support Wikipedia's quality and growth initiatives - Wikimedia Press release, March 25, 2008
 * Sloan Foundation gives Wikimedia Foundation $3 million - CNET News
 * Wikipedia grabs record donation - PC Pro
 * Wikipedia Nabs $3 Million--In Non-profit Funding - BusinessWeek
 * Sloan Foundation to Give Wikipedia $3M - Associated Press


 * related content surrounding Wikipedia and the college's article on Wikipedia:
 * Wikimedia Foundation Receives $500K Donation - WikiMedia press release, March 24, 2008
 * Wikimedia Foundation Receives $500K Donation - WikiMedia press release, March 24, 2008
 * Wikimedia Foundation Receives $500K Donation - WikiMedia press release, March 24, 2008
 * Wikimedia Foundation Receives $500K Donation - WikiMedia press release, March 24, 2008
 * Wikimedia Foundation Receives $500K Donation - WikiMedia press release, March 24, 2008


 * Article talks about Wikipedia reaching 10 million articles thanks to a Hungarian entry, Nicholas Hilliard.
 * Article talks about Wikipedia reaching 10 million articles thanks to a Hungarian entry, Nicholas Hilliard.


 * This is the article being cited in the Clarín newspaper. It picks the information from a Wikimedia Foundation press release, Wikipedia Hits Milestone of Ten Million Articles Across 250 Languages.
 * This is the article being cited in the Clarín newspaper. It picks the information from a Wikimedia Foundation press release, Wikipedia Hits Milestone of Ten Million Articles Across 250 Languages.


 * The BBC's technology correspondent looks at the status of Wikipedia on achieving its 10 millionth article and compares its strengths and weaknesses with Knol and Citizendium.
 * The BBC's technology correspondent looks at the status of Wikipedia on achieving its 10 millionth article and compares its strengths and weaknesses with Knol and Citizendium.

April



 * Interview with Jonathan Zittrain
 * Interview with Jonathan Zittrain






 * Reporting a relaxation of the blocking of non Chinese language Wikipedias.
 * Reporting a relaxation of the blocking of non Chinese language Wikipedias.


 * - [Article not available on line.]
 * This is a 3,225 word article critical of Wikipedia. The author talks about his experiences editing five specific Wikipedia articles and ends with a suggestion of how the CIA or al-Qaeda could gain increased control over Wikipedia's content. Copy with publisher's permission to reproduce is available here.






 * Referring to this revision.
 * Referring to this revision.


 * Review of The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It by Jonathan Zittrain
 * Review of The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It by Jonathan Zittrain


 * An abridged version of the Baker's New York Review of Books article "The Charms of Wikipedia", listed above under March.
 * An abridged version of the Baker's New York Review of Books article "The Charms of Wikipedia", listed above under March.




 * Refers to a a short Q&A by Niko Pfund, Vice President and Publisher of the Academic and Trade division of Oxford University Press in New York, on the Oxford University Press USA blog, in which he compares the method by which the early OED was compiled with the wikipedia method.
 * Refers to a a short Q&A by Niko Pfund, Vice President and Publisher of the Academic and Trade division of Oxford University Press in New York, on the Oxford University Press USA blog, in which he compares the method by which the early OED was compiled with the wikipedia method.


 * The Daily Mail continues to intimate its concern about the deleterious effects of the new, in its own inimitable style.
 * The Daily Mail continues to intimate its concern about the deleterious effects of the new, in its own inimitable style.


 * Reports the argument against the use of wikipedia by a Deakin University associate professor.
 * Reports the argument against the use of wikipedia by a Deakin University associate professor.


 * Relatively bland overview of the current state of things in wikipedia, based on an interview with Jimmy Wales.
 * Relatively bland overview of the current state of things in wikipedia, based on an interview with Jimmy Wales.


 * According to many who live there, the village of Denshaw is a little piece of paradise tucked away in the Pennines. But Wikipedia readers have been receiving a rather different message.
 * According to the world's most-used online encyclopaedia, its population was devastated by a tapeworm outbreak ten years ago. Those who remain relax by throwing sheep or shooting cows. It gets no more than four hours of sunlight a day because of the surrounding hills. And the total population is four, none of whom is a "fit girl".
 * Located via this entry at Fark.com
 * Located via this entry at Fark.com


 * The Wikipedia article E-meter (and its accompanying image) is cited. Cirt (talk) 19:02, 18 April 2008 (UTC)
 * The Wikipedia article E-meter (and its accompanying image) is cited. Cirt (talk) 19:02, 18 April 2008 (UTC)




 * Reports an edit war between the writer (Lawrence Solomon) and one WP editor about the contents of the article Naomi Oreskes.


 * French newspaper Le Figaro analyses what it calls the "Jin Jing phenomenon", and mentions that Jin has a Wikipedia article. The Figaro article provides a direct link to the Wikipedia article. The press article notes that coverage of Jin in Wikipedia is currently subject to controversy (it has a neutrality tage), and links this to controversy over Jin in the wider media.
 * French newspaper Le Figaro analyses what it calls the "Jin Jing phenomenon", and mentions that Jin has a Wikipedia article. The Figaro article provides a direct link to the Wikipedia article. The press article notes that coverage of Jin in Wikipedia is currently subject to controversy (it has a neutrality tage), and links this to controversy over Jin in the wider media.


 * Reports an exposé of an alleged conspiracy to set up an undercover pressure group within Wikipedia to give certain articles a pro Zionist slant.
 * Reports an exposé of an alleged conspiracy to set up an undercover pressure group within Wikipedia to give certain articles a pro Zionist slant.


 * Compares Wikipedia with DVD encyclopedias.
 * Compares Wikipedia with DVD encyclopedias.


 * El Tiempo, Colombia's highest circulation daily newspaper, calls Wikipedia "'God' of the web" on its front page.
 * El Tiempo, Colombia's highest circulation daily newspaper, calls Wikipedia "'God' of the web" on its front page.


 * Reports German publisher's plan to publish articles on top most searched terms in German Wikipedia. (Google news had 23 news articles on this story at 2008-04-24 .)
 * Reports German publisher's plan to publish articles on top most searched terms in German Wikipedia. (Google news had 23 news articles on this story at 2008-04-24 .)


 * Reports that Britannica may be seeking to generate a higher search engine ranking by offering free access to its articles for the first click only.
 * Reports that Britannica may be seeking to generate a higher search engine ranking by offering free access to its articles for the first click only.




 * A school student is arrested after Wikipedia admins reported to police a threat to shoot other school students in an edit to the Glen A. Wilson High School article. The admin involved is interviewed.
 * A school student is arrested after Wikipedia admins reported to police a threat to shoot other school students in an edit to the Glen A. Wilson High School article. The admin involved is interviewed.






 * Despite ongoing controversy over students using Wikipedia as a source for papers, professors are finding some articles (Complexity classes P and NP and Chernoff bound are specifically linked to), useful enough to refer students to for basic information on a topic. Larry Sanger and others involved in more academic wikis are quoted.
 * Despite ongoing controversy over students using Wikipedia as a source for papers, professors are finding some articles (Complexity classes P and NP and Chernoff bound are specifically linked to), useful enough to refer students to for basic information on a topic. Larry Sanger and others involved in more academic wikis are quoted.


 * Britannica will vet the blogger's standing before granting requests for a free link to one of its pages.
 * Britannica will vet the blogger's standing before granting requests for a free link to one of its pages.

May



 * Examines the wikipedia article Nuclear power.
 * Examines the wikipedia article Nuclear power.




 * Reports attempts by the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, to set up a secret pressure group within Wikipedia.
 * Reports attempts by the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, to set up a secret pressure group within Wikipedia.




 * Trenchant criticism of the actions of User:William M. Connolley in global warming related articles, by User:Lawrence Solomon, who appear to have differed on the editing of the article Naomi Oreskes. Mr. Solomon failed to declare an interest in his article.
 * Trenchant criticism of the actions of User:William M. Connolley in global warming related articles, by User:Lawrence Solomon, who appear to have differed on the editing of the article Naomi Oreskes. Mr. Solomon failed to declare an interest in his article.


 * An interview with Sue Gardner, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation.
 * Matt Barber, policy director for cultural issues of the Concerned Women for America, a Biblically principled organization, fulminates at sexually explicit images on Wikipedia.
 * Further coverage from the Christian Newswire: "Wikipedia Peddles Porn to Kids"
 * Matt Barber, policy director for cultural issues of the Concerned Women for America, a Biblically principled organization, fulminates at sexually explicit images on Wikipedia.
 * Further coverage from the Christian Newswire: "Wikipedia Peddles Porn to Kids"


 * Further reporting of the pro-Israel group, Camera's call for volunteers to edit entries that it sees as displaying bias.
 * Further reporting of the pro-Israel group, Camera's call for volunteers to edit entries that it sees as displaying bias.


 * Discusses Wikia's inability to be more than just a wikipedia clone.
 * Discusses Wikia's inability to be more than just a wikipedia clone.


 * Reports a study that found the article length is the best indicator of the quality of an article. The study is this:
 * Reports a study that found the article length is the best indicator of the quality of an article. The study is this:


 * An opinion piece by Gilead Ini, an analyst for the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America.
 * An opinion piece by Gilead Ini, an analyst for the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America.






 * Discusses a recent Nielsen report on the U.S. Internet traffic to Wikipedia.
 * Discusses a recent Nielsen report on the U.S. Internet traffic to Wikipedia.


 * Reports that Larousse is launching a French online reference site that invites readers to contribute content alongside content from its own editorialy managed articles. Also in UK Independent
 * Reports that Larousse is launching a French online reference site that invites readers to contribute content alongside content from its own editorialy managed articles. Also in UK Independent


 * Summarizes a discussion between Jimmy Wales and Yochai Benkler, the author of The Wealth of Networks. It includes a long quote of Wales.
 * Summarizes a discussion between Jimmy Wales and Yochai Benkler, the author of The Wealth of Networks. It includes a long quote of Wales.




 * Reports research by Eti Yaari of the Information Science department at Bar-Ilan University in her doctoral thesis on the possibility of automatically evaluating the veracity of Wikipedia entries, in order to provide an efficient scale for surfers to judge the quality of an entry.
 * Reports research by Eti Yaari of the Information Science department at Bar-Ilan University in her doctoral thesis on the possibility of automatically evaluating the veracity of Wikipedia entries, in order to provide an efficient scale for surfers to judge the quality of an entry.


 * "Lib Dem candidate Elizabeth Shenton's Wikipedia entry is already 'marked for deletion'. Bless."
 * "Lib Dem candidate Elizabeth Shenton's Wikipedia entry is already 'marked for deletion'. Bless."


 * A view of the inclusion of Wikipedia on the NSW English syllabus.
 * A view of the inclusion of Wikipedia on the NSW English syllabus.


 * Irish Jounalist, Kevin Myers, complains about the inaccuracies in his Wikipedia article.
 * Irish Jounalist, Kevin Myers, complains about the inaccuracies in his Wikipedia article.


 * A new course in the high school English syllabus in New South Wales called “Global Village”, examines how modern communities interact and has Wikipedia as an example of how modern communities interact. The article then takes a satirical line about what the lessons might be.
 * A new course in the high school English syllabus in New South Wales called “Global Village”, examines how modern communities interact and has Wikipedia as an example of how modern communities interact. The article then takes a satirical line about what the lessons might be.


 * Concludes the article United Kingdom is at the centre of the shortest route to any other article.
 * Concludes the article United Kingdom is at the centre of the shortest route to any other article.


 * Also posted to paper's Digital Life blog.
 * Page one story profiling Wikipedia editor Wasted Time R and his work on political articles such as Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain.
 * Also put on, in slightly different form, the Newhouse News Service:
 * From there, versions carried as, , and


 * Discussion about what is cosmetic and what is drug. Judges of Supreme Court of India cited Wikipedia as source in their judgment.

June

 * Reports a debate at Oxford University, Balliol College, between Wikipedia co-founder Dr Larry Sanger and Andrew Keen on the proposition that "the internet is the future of knowledge".
 * Reports a debate at Oxford University, Balliol College, between Wikipedia co-founder Dr Larry Sanger and Andrew Keen on the proposition that "the internet is the future of knowledge".


 * University of Ottawa internet law professor Michael Geist discovers an IP address from Industry Canada has been making edits to the article of Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry. The edits remove criticism of a forthcoming bill, and glorify the minister as someone with "experience, confidence and competence, ability and capability."
 * University of Ottawa internet law professor Michael Geist discovers an IP address from Industry Canada has been making edits to the article of Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry. The edits remove criticism of a forthcoming bill, and glorify the minister as someone with "experience, confidence and competence, ability and capability."


 * Article focusing on Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales
 * Article focusing on Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales


 * On the latest development concerning Overstock.com's Patrick Byrne accusations that financial journalist Gary Weiss has gamed Wikipedia over the past two-and-a-half years to discredit him and his campaign against the controversial Wall Street practice of naked shorting. Article dsecribes the dilemma between the principles of sockpuppeting and privacy protection. Article describes the process leading to the banning of User:Mantanmoreland, an alleged sockpuppet of Gary Weiss. Two administrators, David Yellope and User:FT2, are interviewed.
 * On the latest development concerning Overstock.com's Patrick Byrne accusations that financial journalist Gary Weiss has gamed Wikipedia over the past two-and-a-half years to discredit him and his campaign against the controversial Wall Street practice of naked shorting. Article dsecribes the dilemma between the principles of sockpuppeting and privacy protection. Article describes the process leading to the banning of User:Mantanmoreland, an alleged sockpuppet of Gary Weiss. Two administrators, David Yellope and User:FT2, are interviewed.


 * Report of threatened legal proceeding against Wikimedia by Australian telecoms company Telsra for comments against its chief executive Sol Trujillo made in the article.
 * Report of threatened legal proceeding against Wikimedia by Australian telecoms company Telsra for comments against its chief executive Sol Trujillo made in the article.


 * Reports on the stalking of and threats made to some Wikipedia editors.
 * Story also mentioned here.
 * Story also mentioned here.


 * A Wikipedia editor writes about his experience with the project over the last five years, what inspired him to become a contributor to articles on Seattle, Washington state, and the Pacific Northwest, and why he has recently become far less active.
 * A Wikipedia editor writes about his experience with the project over the last five years, what inspired him to become a contributor to articles on Seattle, Washington state, and the Pacific Northwest, and why he has recently become far less active.


 * The author supports the SPTC's view in blaming students' trusting and undiscriminating use of internet sources, especially Wikipedia for a decline in examination results in Scotland.
 * The author supports the SPTC's view in blaming students' trusting and undiscriminating use of internet sources, especially Wikipedia for a decline in examination results in Scotland.


 * Wikipedia's reporting of the death of news anchor Tim Russert. An IBS spokeswoman said Friday that "a junior-level employee made updates to the Wikipedia page upon learning of Russert's passing, thinking it was public record." She added that the company had "taken the necessary measures with the employee and apologized to NBC.". NBC News said it had been told the employee was fired.
 * Wikipedia's reporting of the death of news anchor Tim Russert. An IBS spokeswoman said Friday that "a junior-level employee made updates to the Wikipedia page upon learning of Russert's passing, thinking it was public record." She added that the company had "taken the necessary measures with the employee and apologized to NBC.". NBC News said it had been told the employee was fired.


 * Questions the reliability of Wikipedia, yet points out that it can be a valuable source of information.
 * Questions the reliability of Wikipedia, yet points out that it can be a valuable source of information.

July

 * Reprinting of messages sent to the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America e-mail list made public by Electronic Intifada in April.
 * Reprinting of messages sent to the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America e-mail list made public by Electronic Intifada in April.


 * "Wikipedia has introduced Switzerland's fourth language Romansh. The Romansh project was the work of two brothers from the eastern canton of Graubünden, Gion-Andri and Martin Cantieni, supported by a dozen other contributors. The first two years of the work were financed by a contribution of SFr60,000 ($58,502) from the canton and the federal government, according to the daily Romansh language newspaper La Quotidiana." This relates to the creation of rm.wikipedia.
 * "Wikipedia has introduced Switzerland's fourth language Romansh. The Romansh project was the work of two brothers from the eastern canton of Graubünden, Gion-Andri and Martin Cantieni, supported by a dozen other contributors. The first two years of the work were financed by a contribution of SFr60,000 ($58,502) from the canton and the federal government, according to the daily Romansh language newspaper La Quotidiana." This relates to the creation of rm.wikipedia.


 * Discussion of checkers and flagged revisions in use on the German Wikipedia
 * Discussion of checkers and flagged revisions in use on the German Wikipedia


 * Bertelsmann to publish a volume containing the 25,000 most popular articles from the German Wikipedia, with all 90,000 contributors listed.
 * Bertelsmann to publish a volume containing the 25,000 most popular articles from the German Wikipedia, with all 90,000 contributors listed.


 * News article about the debut of Google's Knol, an encyclopedic reference intended to improve the information in search results. Udi Manber of Google, Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia, Jorge Cauz of Encyclopedia Britannica and others are quoted and the Knol team is pictured.
 * Federal public servants are systematically sanitising the Wikipedia entries for federal politicians and have shown MPs how to change their entries. (The author earned a 2008 Young Australian Journalist of the Year award for his previous article on the topic)
 * Federal public servants are systematically sanitising the Wikipedia entries for federal politicians and have shown MPs how to change their entries. (The author earned a 2008 Young Australian Journalist of the Year award for his previous article on the topic)
 * Federal public servants are systematically sanitising the Wikipedia entries for federal politicians and have shown MPs how to change their entries. (The author earned a 2008 Young Australian Journalist of the Year award for his previous article on the topic)


 * There has been considerable talk about the ages of Chinese gymnasts on Web sites devoted to the sport. And there has been frequent editing of He’s Wikipedia entry, although it could not be determined by whom. One paragraph that discusses the controversy of her age kept disappearing and reappearing on He’s entry. As of Friday, a different version of the paragraph had been restored to the page.
 * There has been considerable talk about the ages of Chinese gymnasts on Web sites devoted to the sport. And there has been frequent editing of He’s Wikipedia entry, although it could not be determined by whom. One paragraph that discusses the controversy of her age kept disappearing and reappearing on He’s entry. As of Friday, a different version of the paragraph had been restored to the page.


 * Except for the times when I found a long list of highly personal essays unrelated to my search, most of the themes that are covered display mirrored versions of Wikipedia articles on the same subjects. This would not be remarkable if only a handful of users were doing this. But the unabashed mirroring extends through an incredible amount of articles.
 * Except for the times when I found a long list of highly personal essays unrelated to my search, most of the themes that are covered display mirrored versions of Wikipedia articles on the same subjects. This would not be remarkable if only a handful of users were doing this. But the unabashed mirroring extends through an incredible amount of articles.


 * On this day in 2007, OMNI published a piece regarding suspicious edits made to certain articles on Wikipedia. As this writer was researching his next piece on the Lockerbie bombing, he noticed that some information regarding a Palestinian terror group had been erased. Upon closer inspection, I came to the conclusion that intelligence agencies were editing sensitive information on Wikipedia.
 * On this day in 2007, OMNI published a piece regarding suspicious edits made to certain articles on Wikipedia. As this writer was researching his next piece on the Lockerbie bombing, he noticed that some information regarding a Palestinian terror group had been erased. Upon closer inspection, I came to the conclusion that intelligence agencies were editing sensitive information on Wikipedia.

August

 * A feature article about the wiki process as it deals with the article Mahmoud Ahmadinejad via mediation, etc. Includes a separate section asking "How good a job has Wikipedia done with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?".
 * A feature article about the wiki process as it deals with the article Mahmoud Ahmadinejad via mediation, etc. Includes a separate section asking "How good a job has Wikipedia done with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?".


 * Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for President, gave a major speech on the crisis in Georgia. It turns out that parts of his speech were taken, without attribution, from the Wikipedia article.  The disclosure in CQPolitics (a service of Congressional Quarterly) of McCain's plagiarism has received widespread coverage elsewhere.
 * Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for President, gave a major speech on the crisis in Georgia. It turns out that parts of his speech were taken, without attribution, from the Wikipedia article.  The disclosure in CQPolitics (a service of Congressional Quarterly) of McCain's plagiarism has received widespread coverage elsewhere.


 * Article about protest over expulsion of students from Semester at Sea for violating University of Virginia's honor code for failing to cite Wikipedia properly in papers; includes quotes from professors saying they'd prefer students not use Wikipedia as a source but if they do to cite it properly as well as students complaining it was one of the few online sources they had.
 * Article about protest over expulsion of students from Semester at Sea for violating University of Virginia's honor code for failing to cite Wikipedia properly in papers; includes quotes from professors saying they'd prefer students not use Wikipedia as a source but if they do to cite it properly as well as students complaining it was one of the few online sources they had.


 * Some residents of the Hunts Point, Bronx neighborhood complain that the Wikipedia article is too negative, for example by using out-of-date information. The Times reports that an officer of Bronx Community Board 2 has been in touch with Wikipedia over the issue.  "Jay Walsh, a spokesman for Wikimedia Foundation, the parent organization of Wikipedia, said that the site aimed to be neutral, but he added that the foundation did not censor information."
 * Some residents of the Hunts Point, Bronx neighborhood complain that the Wikipedia article is too negative, for example by using out-of-date information. The Times reports that an officer of Bronx Community Board 2 has been in touch with Wikipedia over the issue.  "Jay Walsh, a spokesman for Wikimedia Foundation, the parent organization of Wikipedia, said that the site aimed to be neutral, but he added that the foundation did not censor information."


 * Short diary piece reporting Sky News coverage of fighting in South Ossetia which included a briefing telling readers that "Georgia was one of the 13 colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution", taken from wikipedia.
 * Short diary piece reporting Sky News coverage of fighting in South Ossetia which included a briefing telling readers that "Georgia was one of the 13 colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution", taken from wikipedia.




 * Friendly description of Wikipedia's project by Wikipedia User Alan Liefting.
 * Friendly description of Wikipedia's project by Wikipedia User Alan Liefting.


 * Many edits, of a generally positive nature, appeared on Sarah Palin's Wikipedia page in the day before she was named John McCain's running mate, by YoungTrigg (sic: the actual username is User:Young Trigg). The article discusses suspicions of whether YoungTrigg may have been a staff person for the campaign:
 * "'The coincidence of the user’s name, and the sudden spurt of activity just before news broke of Mr. McCain’s choice, has raised suspicions that YoungTrigg was a campaign operative tasked to make sure that her Wikipedia article was ready for prime time, much as handlers have been assigned to do the same for the candidate.'"
 * "'The coincidence of the user’s name, and the sudden spurt of activity just before news broke of Mr. McCain’s choice, has raised suspicions that YoungTrigg was a campaign operative tasked to make sure that her Wikipedia article was ready for prime time, much as handlers have been assigned to do the same for the candidate.'"

September



 * Reports a debate within Wikipedia of how much illustration should accompany sexuality topics. Quotes Childwise head Bernadette McMenamin as saying that sex education is "a good thing", but displaying sexualised images in an online encyclopaedia "crosses the line".
 * Also at Newsblaze Canada
 * Also at Newsblaze Canada


 * "Wikipedia is democracy's answer to the encyclopedia - but even in democracies - wars break out. And during a heated campaign - "creative edits" that so pervade the site can cross over - into virtual vandalism. Susan Ormiston heads into the virtual battlefield of the leaders' wikipedia pages"
 * "Wikipedia is democracy's answer to the encyclopedia - but even in democracies - wars break out. And during a heated campaign - "creative edits" that so pervade the site can cross over - into virtual vandalism. Susan Ormiston heads into the virtual battlefield of the leaders' wikipedia pages"


 * Article in the Guardian Technology section critical of Jimmy Wales professed belief in Ayn Rand's "fanatical capitalist intellectualism" and its contradiction with the altruism that motivates the massive amounts of free labour that build Wikipedia.
 * Article in the Guardian Technology section critical of Jimmy Wales professed belief in Ayn Rand's "fanatical capitalist intellectualism" and its contradiction with the altruism that motivates the massive amounts of free labour that build Wikipedia.
 * Italian rugby coach Nick Mallet initially reluctant to recruit player Craig Gower because of the chequered past outlined on his Wikipedia entry.
 * Italian rugby coach Nick Mallet initially reluctant to recruit player Craig Gower because of the chequered past outlined on his Wikipedia entry.

October

 * "Most hockey-related Wikipedia vandalisms are the Internet equivalent of a prank call to a bowling alley: Make the easy joke about 12-pound balls, hang up and high-five your buddy."
 * "Most hockey-related Wikipedia vandalisms are the Internet equivalent of a prank call to a bowling alley: Make the easy joke about 12-pound balls, hang up and high-five your buddy."


 * "Wikipedia users debate Wurzelbacher’s newsworthiness and notability."
 * "Wikipedia users debate Wurzelbacher’s newsworthiness and notability."


 * Reports a lecture by Yochai Benkler entitled "After Selfishness: Wikipedia 1, Hobbes 0 at Halftime" which explored how the success of the Creative Commons model should guide the development of a new model of human behavior which discards the narrow assumptions of twentieth century economic models.
 * Reports a lecture by Yochai Benkler entitled "After Selfishness: Wikipedia 1, Hobbes 0 at Halftime" which explored how the success of the Creative Commons model should guide the development of a new model of human behavior which discards the narrow assumptions of twentieth century economic models.


 * Explores the way Wikipedia evolved its definitions of "Verifiability", "no original research" ,and "neutral point of view" and how these have combined to give a completely new definition of what Truth is.
 * Explores the way Wikipedia evolved its definitions of "Verifiability", "no original research" ,and "neutral point of view" and how these have combined to give a completely new definition of what Truth is.


 * The Economist awards its annual Innovation Award for Business Process to Jimmy Wales, founder, Wikipedia, for public collaboration as a form of product and content development.
 * The Economist awards its annual Innovation Award for Business Process to Jimmy Wales, founder, Wikipedia, for public collaboration as a form of product and content development.

November

 * "The age of public collaboration over the Internet is still only in its infancy, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales told AFP in an interview."
 * "The age of public collaboration over the Internet is still only in its infancy, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales told AFP in an interview."


 * Notes the first use of two featured articles on John McCain and Barack Obama.
 * Free Software Foundation gives the GNU Free Documentation License (FDL) a window to allow migration to Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike, "advantageous for Wikipedia" (see also Wikimedia Foundation request from 2007).
 * Free Software Foundation gives the GNU Free Documentation License (FDL) a window to allow migration to Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike, "advantageous for Wikipedia" (see also Wikimedia Foundation request from 2007).
 * Free Software Foundation gives the GNU Free Documentation License (FDL) a window to allow migration to Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike, "advantageous for Wikipedia" (see also Wikimedia Foundation request from 2007).


 * Report on Wikimedias annual fund raising campaign which hopes to achieve $6 million by 15th January.
 * Report on Wikimedias annual fund raising campaign which hopes to achieve $6 million by 15th January.


 * Reports the editing of the candidates' Wikipedia articles on the night of the US election.
 * Reports the editing of the candidates' Wikipedia articles on the night of the US election.


 * About news coverage on Wikipedia on election night in the U.S. Mentions several editors and other languages.
 * About news coverage on Wikipedia on election night in the U.S. Mentions several editors and other languages.


 * "Sure. Stephen Colbert did that once, right on his show in front of millions of people, and everybody laughed at the joke, ha ha, until they actually went to Wiki and saw that Colbert's changes were real."
 * "Sure. Stephen Colbert did that once, right on his show in front of millions of people, and everybody laughed at the joke, ha ha, until they actually went to Wiki and saw that Colbert's changes were real."


 * The action caused a sharp increase in donations to the German Wikipedia.
 * Reported in multiple media sources. AP Deutsche Welle Speigel Online
 * Reported in multiple media sources. AP Deutsche Welle Speigel Online


 * "It's Wikipedia, you see. It's just perfect for stand-ups because we can inhale Wikipedia and chuck it out in stupid form." [...] "But it's a real people power thing - you get on there and there's information on everything. You type in spoons, there's stuff on spoons; Cats, there's stuff on cats; Monkeys - all the monkeys. All the different monkeys."
 * "It's Wikipedia, you see. It's just perfect for stand-ups because we can inhale Wikipedia and chuck it out in stupid form." [...] "But it's a real people power thing - you get on there and there's information on everything. You type in spoons, there's stuff on spoons; Cats, there's stuff on cats; Monkeys - all the monkeys. All the different monkeys."


 * Wikipedia often omits important drug data, Reuters, (November 25, 2008).
 * Article details various drugs which have articles on Wikipedia; says "Consumers who rely on the user-edited Web resource Wikipedia for information on medications are putting themselves at risk of potentially harmful drug interactions and adverse effects"; persons doing the study "found few factual errors" but "entries were often missing important information", about side effects or effects of drug combinations.
 * This story was also covered in The stories are based on a paper  which says "No factual errors were found in Wikipedia, whereas 4 answers in Medscape conflicted with the answer key; errors of omission were higher in Wikipedia than in MDR. There was a marked improvement in Wikipedia over time, as current entries were superior to those 90 days prior." I challenged Kevin Clauson, the lead author, when he presented interim results of this study at the Medicine 2.0 conference, about why he & his team hadn't corrected the errors and omissions they had detected - he said he was going to take that question back to the regulatory professional bodies.

December

 * "Concerned that many would-be contributors to Wikipedia are being scared away, the foundation that runs the Internet encyclopedia is getting an $890,000 grant to try to make the editing process more user-friendly."
 * "Concerned that many would-be contributors to Wikipedia are being scared away, the foundation that runs the Internet encyclopedia is getting an $890,000 grant to try to make the editing process more user-friendly."


 * Wikipedia is blocked by the UK's Internet Watch Foundation for an image of the German rock band The Scorpions album "Virgin Killer".
 * Wikipedia is blocked by the UK's Internet Watch Foundation for an image of the German rock band The Scorpions album "Virgin Killer".


 * See the Wikipedia Administrators' noticeboard for a full up to date list here


 * The German Federal Archives has provided online encyclopedia Wikipedia with 100,000 historical images for free public access.
 * The German Federal Archives has provided online encyclopedia Wikipedia with 100,000 historical images for free public access.


 * The author claims the Scorpions album cover controversy has exposed weaknesses and contradictions in Wikipedia's editorial process.
 * The author claims the Scorpions album cover controversy has exposed weaknesses and contradictions in Wikipedia's editorial process.


 * "A Pulaski County Circuit judge on Thursday derailed efforts by The Associated Press to determine which state employees changed information about former Gov. Mike Huckabee and other state officials on the Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia."
 * "A Pulaski County Circuit judge on Thursday derailed efforts by The Associated Press to determine which state employees changed information about former Gov. Mike Huckabee and other state officials on the Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia."


 * "In increasing numbers, scientists are reasoning that, if people are going to look at the Wikipedia page anyway, the scientific community should probably ensure that the information there is good. In the latest manifestation of this trend, the journal RNA Biology is requiring that authors of a specific type of paper submit a Wikipedia entry for peer review..."
 * "In increasing numbers, scientists are reasoning that, if people are going to look at the Wikipedia page anyway, the scientific community should probably ensure that the information there is good. In the latest manifestation of this trend, the journal RNA Biology is requiring that authors of a specific type of paper submit a Wikipedia entry for peer review..."


 * See for more information, RNA journal submits articles to Wikipedia




 * "When Steve Smith first learned about Wikipedia, he thought it was a stupid idea...Four years later, [Smith has become] a Wikipedia page administrator with more than 13,000 edits to his name..."
 * "When Steve Smith first learned about Wikipedia, he thought it was a stupid idea...Four years later, [Smith has become] a Wikipedia page administrator with more than 13,000 edits to his name..."


 * "Contributions to Wikipedia, the world's largest online encyclopedia, are on track to double this year after its founder, Jimmy Wales, posted a pitch for more funds on Christmas Eve, the organization said Friday."
 * "Contributions to Wikipedia, the world's largest online encyclopedia, are on track to double this year after its founder, Jimmy Wales, posted a pitch for more funds on Christmas Eve, the organization said Friday."


 * Reports the 892 per cent rise in daily donations following Jimmy Wales' appeal.
 * Reports the 892 per cent rise in daily donations following Jimmy Wales' appeal.