Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2008-03-17/In the news

Decline in print encyclopedias
Start Writing the Eulogies for Print Encyclopedias - The print encyclopedia appears to become the "first casualty in the end of print". Take for example the printed Encyclopedia Britannica, whose sales are now said to be 10 percent of what they were in 1990, but the company says that the print edition is still profitable. Other companies are not doing as well though; German encyclopedia Brockhaus might never appear in print again, while Gyldendal, a Danish publisher, is finding the online subscription model is "misguided". Despite nostalgic recollections of childhood memories of reading the encyclopedia, the "electronic hearth" is providing new opportunities for encyclopedias in providing information that updates quickly. Wikipedia is naturally cited as an example, in addition to the Encyclopedia of Life and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

More trouble for Wikipedia
Open-Source Troubles in Wiki World - This week brings more coverage of the recent controversies surrounding the actions of Jimmy Wales. In what is said to illustrate growing pains, Wales has been accused of spending frivolously on his expense account and on intervening on the article about someone with whom he had a relationship. On top of that, there is now a new controversy about Wikipedia's relationship with venture capitalists Elevation Partners, after one of its partners helped find two large donors, although apparently in his personal capacity. The chair of the Wikimedia board, Florence Nibart-Devouard, has expressed concerns with becoming reliant upon venture capitalist donors, and said that the board recently passed a resolution requiring all donations larger than two percent of revenue be approved by board. Despite these controversies, it seems like there will always be a place for Wales, who is a "hero" in the Wikipedia community, the article says.

Other mentions
Other recent mentions in the online press include:
 * What Wikipedia can teach us about SEO - Wikipedia is a good model for search engine optimisation.
 * The scandal of Olivia Newton-John: 12 surprisingly controversial Wikipedia pages - The title says it all: an overview of a dozen pages that have caused controversy on Wikipedia, from oral sex to spam.
 * Drama on Wikipedia Street - The continual reversion and consequent removal of newer material to the featured version of the cold fusion article from 2004 has troubled this commentator from a pro-cold fusion website.