Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2014-01-15/In the media

Is Google hurting Wikipedia's traffic?
Several media outlets have recently reported on a Wikipediocracy post that linked Wikipedia's decline in readership to Google's Knowledge Graph. Google's application places snippets of relevant information on the side of search results, much of which is taken from Wikipedia. Individuals looking for information on a subject may be less likely to click through to an article if the information is provided in search results. The Daily Dot asks "Is Google accidentally killing Wikipedia?" The Register links Google's use of Knowledge Graph to its alleged antitrust activities being investigated by the European Commission. Non-US sources covering the story include de Volkskrant, Corriere della Sera, Cubic Pro, Web Wereld, HWSW, Abondance, and The Times of India.

Wikipedia-Mania
The New York Times (8 January 2014) published a lengthy article on Wikipedia by Judith Newman, asking Wikipedia, What Does Judith Newman Have to Do to Get a Page? Written in a humorous style, the article described Newman's (mock?) frustration with the fact that she did not have a Wikipedia biography (a fact since remedied). Newman also offered some criticism of Wikipedia's editorial policies and internal culture – quoting among others Wiki-PR chief executive Michael French, who told her:

She also asked French about the recent sockpuppeting scandal his company has been involved in (see previous Signpost coverage here, here and here). French said,

Newman did not seem to have a problem with the fact that there were Wikipedia consultants editing for money:

And she said that she loved the idea of crowdsourcing:

In brief

 * Vandals: BuzzFeed (2 January 2014) had a list of spectacular acts of Wikipedia vandalism.
 * Loins: Slate (8 January 2014) took a look at Wikipedia's articles on genitals, and discussed the impact of the gender gap on how these articles are written. The author also managed to contact an anonymous exhibitionist who is excited that his penis is featured in Wikipedia … and that his is now "the fourth when you search penis on google images".
 * No biography for Abby Martin: Weblog The Dissenting Democrat (12 January 2014) wondered why RT journalist Abby Martin does not have a Wikipedia biography. (Her entry currently redirects to RT (TV network).)
 * Wikipedia pages for small businesses: The Miami Herald (13 January 2014) offered advice on how small businesses should go about getting a Wikipedia page.
 * Wikipedia's 13th birthday: Mashable, The Wire and Business Insider (15 January 2014) published articles celebrating Wikipedia's 13th birthday.
 * Sarah Stierch: The recent departure of Sarah Stierch from the Wikimedia Foundation was covered by The Daily Dot, Ars Technica, The Independent (UK), The Irish Independent, WebProNews, The Times of India and a number of news outlets in other languages than English.
 * German study: Covert PR in Wikipedia: German journalist Marvin Oppong published a study on covert PR editing in Wikipedia. The study is being vigorously discussed in the German Wikipedia, on the Kurier's talk page.