Paid Wikipedia editing & disclosure series, 2015
Drawing by Nicholas Boudreau, licensed CC BY
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Category Archives: conflict of interest
Wikipedia, controversy, and an acclaimed documentary
The Hunting Ground, a 2015 documentary about sexual assault on college campuses exposed conflicts of interest, malfeasance and cover-ups. To learn about a complex topic—especially if powerful institutions have a major stake in it—we rely on experts. People who devote … Continue reading
We create Wikipedia editors, not Wikipedia articles
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Posted in conflict of interest, How-to, paid editing, Terms of Use, wiki, Wikipedia
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French Wikipedians discuss conflict of interest, paid editing
Editor’s note: Readers of this blog may be familiar with the ongoing controversies around paid editing on the English language Wikipedia. (See here for our past writings on the topic.) Wikipedia editors struggle with a number of issues around paid … Continue reading
Public relations for Wikipedia
How to move the dial to “notable” Companies often want to put something on Wikipedia that has no independent, reliable sources to back it up. For Wikipedia, that’s a non-starter; no matter how many press releases or social media posts … Continue reading
Posted in Beginner how-to, conflict of interest, core, How-to, journalism, Terms of Use, wiki, Wikipedia
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Wikimedia Foundation’s strong step toward good governance
The Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) today took an important step toward running its finances in a more transparent and accountable way. Luis Villa, the WMF’s Senior Director of Community Engagement, explained (see video clip below, ~10 minutes) how the organization had incorporated a … Continue reading
Posted in conflict of interest, core, governance, systemic bias, wiki, Wikimedia Foundation, Wikipedia
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Grants and transparency: Wikimedia Foundation should follow standards it sets
I wrote and edited a number of grant proposals and reports on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) from 2009 to 2011. In that role, I participated in a number of staff discussions around restricted grants, and transparency in the … Continue reading
Posted in conflict of interest, core, governance, wiki, Wikimedia Foundation, Wikipedia
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Wikimedia Foundation ousts community-elected Trustee
Today, the Wikimedia Foundation’s ten member Board of Trustees voted to oust one of its members. (Updated links: see these two email list threads: one initiated by Dr. James Heilman, the other initiated by Board chair Patricio Lorente. The Wikipedia … Continue reading
Posted in conflict of interest, core, governance, wiki, Wikimedia Foundation, Wikipedia
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Conflict of interest and expertise
How can we best engage experts in the project of building and improving Wikipedia? This question has guided my work for many years, and that Wiki Strategies from the beginning. When the Wikimedia Foundation hired me in 2009, it was to … Continue reading
Washington Post asks, “why give to Wikipedia?”
The Washington Post just published a story about the Wikimedia Foundation’s annual fund-raising campaign: Wikipedia has a ton of money. So why is it begging you to donate yours? Reporter Caitlin Dewey, who quoted me and several others, did a good job with a tough topic. … Continue reading
Posted in conflict of interest, core, governance, journalism, wiki, Wikimedia Foundation, Wikipedia
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Pete Forsyth