Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2018-12-01/Opinion

Suppose they gave a blog and nobody came?
What was (in my opinion, but  perhaps I'm old fashioned after 25 years of the Web) a nice, clean newsletter-style blog, has, like most of the other readily accessible and commentable – and sometimes commendable – stuff, been incorporated into one of those quick-build WordPress sites that are taking over the creative art of web design; those WordPress sites are all instantly  recognisable, aren't they? Content management systems have their advantages of course though, but sometimes only for those with privileged access.

The news to come out of the Wikimedia Foundation's effort to the Word Wide Web this month is an eclectic mix of essays and reports, and certainly a worthwhile browse for whatever takes one's fancy, and this is just  my  quick pick:


 * As if they can't give it a rest, Robert Fernandez	on November 2018  brings up the issue again on Wikipedia lacking an article on Strickland, but  provides some excellent  advice on  how to volunteer and contribute to Wikipedia.
 * Saskia Ehlers, Houssem Abida and Ed Erhart on 9 November 2018 go into  compulsory heterosexuality. This concept, reported by  Ed Erhart, Senior Editorial Associate, Communications Wikimedia Foundation, describes how heterosexuality is assumed, enforced and viewed as an obligation regardless of one’s own sexual preferences – something  they  originally  discussed at an event way back in August in Stockholm, when in just two days, over 80 LGBT-related Wikipedia articles in more than 10 languages were created, translated, or improved, and added over 300 photos. Now if all editathons could be as productive as this excellent contribution by the LGBT group whose event was supported by  the Germany, Swiss, and  Austrian chapters.
 * Jan Gerlach on 29 October 2018 talks about the Wikimedia Foundation being honored to join the Global Network Initiative (GNI) as an observer, "an opportunity we hope will advance our efforts to champion freedom of expression and privacy for the Wikimedia community and beyond. GNI is a channel for collective action, advocating to governments and international institutions for policies and laws which promote..."

...and much, much more than I had time  to  read. This will probably change the shape of The Signpost's WMF blog column in future issues. Anyway, it's all out there on Wikimedia Foundation News for anyone who wants to keep abreast.