Wikipedia talk:Wikipedia Signpost/Newsroom/Archive 15

Newsroom discussions prior to May 2018 are archived at WT:POST.

Billionth edit countdown
Picking this up again from December... here are my forecasts for the date we hit one billion edits. ☆ Bri (talk) 18:29, 28 December 2020 (UTC)



!Date forecast was made !! Edit count (M) !! colspan="3"|Forecast UTC date of billionth edit
 * || ||New lower bounda ||Old lower boundb||Upper boundc
 * 24 Dec|| 996.00 || || 13 Jan|| 17 Jan
 * 26 Dec|| 996.50 || || 12 Jan|| 16 Jan
 * 29 Dec|| 997.00 || || 13 Jan|| 16 Jan
 * 31 Dec|| 997.50 || || 12 Jan|| 15 Jan
 * 03 Jan || 998.00 || || 13 Jan|| 14 Jan
 * 05 Jan || 998.50 || || 13 Jan|| 14 Jan
 * 08 Jan || 999.00 || || 13 Jan|| 14 Jan
 * 09 Jan || 999.30 || || 12 Jan|| 13 Jan
 * 10 Jan || 999.50 || 12 Jan 20:15|| 13 Jan 02:15 || 13 Jan 14:15
 * 11 Jan || 999.75 || 12 Jan 22:38|| || 13 Jan 07:31
 * 12 Jan || 999.90 || 13 Jan 01:24 || || 13 Jan 05:00
 * 12 Jan || 999.95 || 13 Jan 00:41 || || 13 Jan 02:20
 * }
 * 08 Jan || 999.00 || || 13 Jan|| 14 Jan
 * 09 Jan || 999.30 || || 12 Jan|| 13 Jan
 * 10 Jan || 999.50 || 12 Jan 20:15|| 13 Jan 02:15 || 13 Jan 14:15
 * 11 Jan || 999.75 || 12 Jan 22:38|| || 13 Jan 07:31
 * 12 Jan || 999.90 || 13 Jan 01:24 || || 13 Jan 05:00
 * 12 Jan || 999.95 || 13 Jan 00:41 || || 13 Jan 02:20
 * }
 * 11 Jan || 999.75 || 12 Jan 22:38|| || 13 Jan 07:31
 * 12 Jan || 999.90 || 13 Jan 01:24 || || 13 Jan 05:00
 * 12 Jan || 999.95 || 13 Jan 00:41 || || 13 Jan 02:20
 * }
 * 12 Jan || 999.95 || 13 Jan 00:41 || || 13 Jan 02:20
 * }


 * a 45 days/10M edits
 * b 50 days/10M edits (avg since pandemic)
 * c 60 days/10M edits (normal)



! Edit count (M) !! date and time !! rate (days/10M edits)
 * 989	|| 11/16/2020 13:53 || 60.0
 * 990	|| 11/22/2020 6:04	|| 56.7
 * 991	|| 11/27/2020 18:55	|| 55.4
 * 992	|| 12/2/2020 23:21	|| 51.8
 * 993	||12/8/2020 6:58 || 53.2
 * 994	||12/13/2020 17:02 || 54.2
 * 995	||12/18/2020 17:34 || 50.2
 * 996	|| 12/24/2020 00:24 || 52.8
 * 997	|| 12/29/2020 15:25 || 56.3
 * 998   || 1/3/2021 07:44 || 46.8
 * 999   || 1/8/2021 01:02 || 47.2
 * 1000 || 1/13/2021 01:03 || 50.0
 * }
 * 995	||12/18/2020 17:34 || 50.2
 * 996	|| 12/24/2020 00:24 || 52.8
 * 997	|| 12/29/2020 15:25 || 56.3
 * 998   || 1/3/2021 07:44 || 46.8
 * 999   || 1/8/2021 01:02 || 47.2
 * 1000 || 1/13/2021 01:03 || 50.0
 * }
 * 999   || 1/8/2021 01:02 || 47.2
 * 1000 || 1/13/2021 01:03 || 50.0
 * }
 * 1000 || 1/13/2021 01:03 || 50.0
 * }

Getting close: 13 January UTC likely
Just thought the newsroom would be interested, the upper bound on the calculator above just clicked over to January 13. It is based on a pretty conservative rate of, which we have exceeded at every point since November. I have some other offline calculators that compute various outcomes based on the rate-of-change data averaged over different periods. They have converged on 13 January UTC for the billionth edit. It could happen according to my data as early as the evening of Tuesday, January 12 on the United States West Coast. - Bri.public (talk) 16:25, 8 January 2021 (UTC)
 * The in-page counter has converged on 13 January (UTC) for both upper and old lower bounds. ☆ Bri (talk) 13:05, 10 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Still converging. It's going to happen today in the late afternoon/early evening Pacific Time, probably around 4:30-ish. - Bri.public (talk) 18:09, 12 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Houston, we have liftoff edit number 1000000000 at 01:03, 13 January 2021 (UTC) - see discussion at User talk:Ser Amantio di Nicolao and Talk:Death Breathing.  Of course, it didn't hurt his chances to be the most active editor of all time, with nearly 0.4% of all edits.  davidwr/  (talk)/(contribs)  01:15, 13 January 2021 (UTC)

Reader feedback
All: You can use the link above to monitor feedback on the December 28 issue.

Pageviews by issue

 * Nov 1 issue 9 articles 2 articles 4,881 4th day; 6,345 7th day; 7,779 14th day; 8,961 21st day; 9,883 28th day;
 * November 29, 2020 issue 3 articles 8 articles 4th day 6,970; 7th day 9,297; 14th day 21,842; 21st day 26,609; 28th day 33,040.
 * December 28, 2020 issue 1st 6 articles remaining 6  4th day 4,943; 7th day 6,186; 14th day 7,970;

FC report
I've caught up to the last finished WP:GO page, e.g. NOT the current one that begins on the 27th. This has the advantage that if I can't finish the report, we can just change the dates it covers, and it's suddenly done after all. Adam Cuerden (talk)Has about 7.8% of all FPs 06:44, 29 December 2020 (UTC)


 * Right. Think I'm going to call this issue's FC done. I'm going to be somewhat busy, so I want to have a certain amount of a buffer, and this way, I can try and get things done in real time. Plus, if I'm honest, having to wait around to do the Featured content report after the new Newsroom cycle started was starting to annoy me. Think the Buruli ulcer image is too visceral? I've done parasitology, I shouldn't be allowed to judge. Adam Cuerden (talk)Has about 7.8% of all FPs 00:03, 4 January 2021 (UTC)

Unavailable to publish in January
It looks like I'll almost certainly be unavailable to publish on 30/31 January -- I will be offline from about that time through mid February. I noted this above on 28 December, but haven't seen anybody else step up so am putting it in its own section. ☆ Bri (talk) 02:16, 19 January 2021 (UTC)

In the Media
Raju Jangid is listed at In the Media, his story appears to have gone somewhat viral in Indian media. An editor with that name is listed at m:Hindi Wikimedians/Members; should we list them in the Signpost? I don't want to run afoul of WP:OUTING especially since I can't read Hindi to see if he's mentioned it himself. ☆ Bri (talk) 03:45, 20 January 2021 (UTC)
 * It seems to be a pretty positive story and he was interviewed for it. My feeling is that if somebody knowingly exposes themself in the mass media then we are not outing them in Wikipedia by mentioning the story. We might check to see if they knew that their name was being exposed - does anybody know Hindi? We could take their name out of In the media and leave the rest of the story, but would that help anything? It is the case that in ITM I'll usually only put the user name or the real world name, even though the press article gives both. Are you saying that their real world name is the same as their user name? what can we do in that case? Suggestions welcomed by  and others. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 17:45, 25 January 2021 (UTC)
 * I went one click deeper and his Meta user page mentions his real-world name. So I think we are safe from outing, if we choose to include the link to his on-wiki account. If it matters, his account name was something else earlier in Devanagari (Hindi script most likely) which I can't read, but thru machine translation it appears to be the same as his name spelled out in Roman characters. ☆ Bri (talk) 01:39, 28 January 2021 (UTC)

Five days to publication!
Please excuse my tardiness this month. I'll just plead mental exhaustion.

That said we have the makings of a fantastic issue this month. In no particular order:
 * In focus, an extensively updated Wikipedia @ 20 article on the history of press coverage of WP will be fantastic.
 * 's special report will be great
 * 's science disinformation is A-1 so far
 * The WMF News is one of their best
 * et al's humour column is funny (break a leg)

Everything above still needs some editing.
 * Traffic report and Featured content look even better than usual
 * I'm never happy with an obit but this one looks important
 * In the media needs some writing and editing, but no more content.
 * In the news needs work!!!!
 * Videos and podcasts is another trial, needs work, but will make it

And yes, I have a couple of production things to take care of. Some copyediting can be done now. All help appreciated.

We'll get it done. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 05:31, 27 January 2021 (UTC)

Special report
Since this report mentioned specifically for his creation of the insurrection article, we might also note his creation of other well written neutral articles about pro- and anti-Trump rallies. There are quite a few listed at WP:US50. Many are in the Pacific Northwest. Examples: March 4 Trump, Mother of All Rallies; LGBT protests against Donald Trump, Women's March on Portland and Not My Presidents Day, which he also brought to GA. ☆ Bri (talk) 20:53, 27 January 2021 (UTC)
 * I added 2 lines. should take a look - it's her article but it looks ok to me. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 00:39, 28 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Yes! That absolutely bears mention, thanks for your addition. GorillaWarfare (talk) 01:02, 28 January 2021 (UTC)

Reply Tool
Anyone know what this "Reply tool" is that's entering A/B testing? ...The Editing News that gets sent out is habitually bad at actually defining things before talking about them. Adam Cuerden (talk)Has about 7.8% of all FPs 02:18, 30 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Does this have what you're looking for mw:Talk pages project/Replying ☆ Bri (talk) 04:42, 30 January 2021 (UTC)

2 days to publication
User:Eddie891 will be publishing this month. is 3pm Eastern on Sunday ok with you? and others:There's lots of copy editing to do. Some great articles this month, but as usual, my articles aren't complete yet. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 05:37, 30 January 2021 (UTC)
 * I've looked over the SPS and other documentation-- I can publish, but will be unable to do twitter postings and mailing lists as far as I am aware. Cheers, Eddie891 Talk Work 15:55, 30 January 2021 (UTC)
 * See also this recent discussion re social media and mailing lists - as indicated there, it seems that we need to retrieve the necessary credentials first. Regards, HaeB (talk) 06:36, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * also, does anyone know what the error is that causes duplicate delivery so I can be sure to not make it? Eddie891 Talk Work 15:55, 30 January 2021 (UTC)
 * I just ran into an "explanation" of that a few hours ago. They said it was "rare" and "random". I'm speechless! Smallbones( smalltalk ) 21:12, 30 January 2021 (UTC)
 * I just ran into an "explanation" of that a few hours ago. They said it was "rare" and "random". I'm speechless! Smallbones( smalltalk ) 21:14, 30 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Well played sir, well played. davidwr/ (talk)/(contribs)  01:49, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Glad to see Eddie891 can publish ... are you using the script? If not, do you have a link to the manual publishing process? ☆ Bri (talk) 23:48, 30 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Yes, I'm planning to use the script. I've had a look at the steps and can manually publish if I need to &mdash; though I hope I won't have to. Eddie891 Talk Work 02:24, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Confirmed - will have RR publishable by that time. Regards, HaeB (talk) 06:28, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * PS: I have updated the deadline template per the above. Regards, HaeB (talk) 06:33, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

Credit for invited contribution
I feel a little uneasy being listed in the byline as a contributor to News and Notes, whereas Ser Amantio is the largest contributor by number of words, but is not credited. Should we list him as an "invited contributor" or something? ☆ Bri (talk) 23:44, 30 January 2021 (UTC)
 * I'll take you off if you'd like. I had originally asked him for a quote or a few words, have checked back with him since. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 07:05, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * It's fine to keep me on the byline. Just wanted to make sure we weren't depriving anyone of credit. Speaking of, I just added who actually started the report, a fact I'd either not noticed or forgotten til now. ☆ Bri (talk) 08:55, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Since editorial control was retained by the interviewer and not the interviewed person, I don't think the subject needs a byline. The quotes are attributed so there isn't any issue with confusing who wrote what. isaacl (talk) 18:53, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

Copyedit issues
I'm almost done copyediting In focus. There are a couple of things I wasn't comfortable addressing. One is a possible language mixup in Russian vs Ukrainian Serbian, which I've highlighted. The other is the text references Doc James and "Heilman" without indicating that they are the same person. ☆ Bri (talk) 01:18, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Good catch. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 15:10, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

Serbian, not Russian
Politika is Serbian, not Russian. ☆ Bri (talk) 03:14, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Changed. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 15:09, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

access to deleted articles
The text states "read-only status for deleted articles and censored edits" is only available to administrators. This is not true; there is a researcher permission which allows viewing deleted titles and pages since May 2020. Not sure about oversighted information. ☆ Bri (talk) 01:34, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * can we get researcher permission?? They may be as unaware as I am. I'll check out your questions in r\the morning. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 07:02, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * They're expressing an opinion on availability. Since there are only 3 official "researchers" and special permission is needed from the WMF, they may be right. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 14:43, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

America's Top Newspapers Use Wikipedia "category"
America's Top Newspapers Use Wikipedia is called a category, but it is not. ☆ Bri (talk) 03:14, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * see the bottom of that page Category:Wikipedia as a media source Smallbones( smalltalk ) 06:56, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * I made a small change. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 15:08, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

Videos and podcasts
If someone who has listened to the "The World According to Wikipedia" podcast episode, "Going GLAM for Wikipedia's Birthday", could add a sentence that expands slightly on the guest's connection with Wikipedia, I feel it would be helpful. isaacl (talk) 02:31, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * I'm more interested in the podcast series, not the interviewee. He or she didn't want to be quoted here or get exposure in The Signpost. If anybody doesn't like the current paragraph, we can just take it out. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 15:26, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Ah, OK. Because the subject of the episode lined up with the "Celebrating 20 years" headline, it felt like the individual episode was being singled out. isaacl (talk) 18:56, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

update on details
Local power lines aren't so good around here and a light snow has started. Don't worry they only go out a couple of times a year, usually for about 30 minutes. If I disappear, please go ahead and publish when is ready. I've checked everything enough to be comfortable with that. There are still some articles to finish copy editing Can anybody give a third opinion on the pix format at Opinion? Please go ahead and copy edit In the media, even though I want to expand the Cohen section. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 17:31, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * I'm on standby to publish once I get the word. Cheers, Eddie891 Talk Work `
 * I'll be ready in 10 minutes, plus a quick look at Recent research. Smallbones( smalltalk ) 19:43, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * OK, planning to go with the order articles are listed in the newsroom currently, of course skipping the postponed sections. Eddie891 Talk Work 19:44, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

It looks like we're ready! I'll be back in 5 minutes (wikibreak!) Smallbones( smalltalk ) 19:55, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Is RR ready for publication? I can fire up the script, but it seems like you are still editing it. Everything else looks good to go. Let me know. Eddie891 Talk Work 19:58, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * It's ready, please go ahead! Regards, HaeB (talk) 20:02, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * OK, see you all on the other side. Eddie891 Talk Work 20:02, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

Hands off the keyboards please
Give Eddie some room. Full speed ahead! Smallbones( smalltalk ) 20:06, 31 January 2021 (UTC)