Every day, thousands of events happen around the world. But only a handful make it onto Wikipedia’s In the News section. It’s not about popularity. It’s not about clicks. It’s about verifiable impact, reliable sourcing, and strict community rules. If you’ve ever wondered how a breaking story becomes a featured item on Wikipedia’s front page, here’s how it actually works.
What Is In the News on Wikipedia?
In the News is a section on Wikipedia’s main page that highlights recent, significant, and well-documented events. It appears under the "On this day" and "Did you know" sections. Unlike news sites, Wikipedia doesn’t break stories-it documents them after they’ve been confirmed by multiple independent, credible sources.
It’s not a ranking of the most sensational headlines. A plane crash with 300 deaths might not make it if coverage is limited to one regional outlet. Meanwhile, a policy change by a major international body, backed by Reuters, BBC, AP, and The Guardian, will. The goal isn’t to be first-it’s to be accurate, balanced, and lasting.
Who Can Nominate a Story?
Any registered Wikipedia editor can nominate an event for In the News. You don’t need special status. You don’t need to be an expert. But you do need to follow the rules.
The nomination happens on the In the News Candidates page. Editors post a short summary of the event, with links to at least three reliable sources. These sources must be:
- Independent of the event (not press releases or official statements)
- Published by established media organizations (e.g., AP, Reuters, BBC, The New York Times)
- Published within the last 72 hours
For example, if a country’s president resigns, you’d link to coverage from the country’s national broadcaster, an international wire service, and a major newspaper. A blog post, a tweet, or a local tabloid won’t cut it.
What Makes a Story Eligible?
Not every big event gets in. Wikipedia has five clear criteria for inclusion:
- Significance - The event must have broad, lasting impact. A local fire? Usually not. A national election result? Yes.
- Verifiability - Must be documented in multiple reliable, published sources.
- Recency - Must have occurred or been confirmed within the last three days.
- Neutrality - The summary must be factual, not opinionated. No "disaster," "tragedy," or "shocking" language.
- Notability - The subject must have a Wikipedia article of its own. You can’t feature a person or event that doesn’t already have a standalone page.
These rules are enforced consistently. In 2023, over 1,200 nominations were submitted. Only 312 made it to the main page. That’s a 26% acceptance rate.
The Review Process
Once a nomination is posted, the community reviews it. This isn’t a vote. It’s a discussion.
Other editors check:
- Are the sources reliable and independent?
- Is the summary clear and neutral?
- Does the event meet all five criteria?
- Is there already a similar item on the list for the same day?
Comments like "I think this is important" or "This should be included" don’t count. You need to cite sources or point out missing criteria. One editor might say: "The AP article confirms the resignation, but the Guardian piece is behind a paywall and doesn’t mention the cause. Add a third source from Reuters."
Most nominations are resolved within 24 hours. If a nomination lacks sufficient sources or violates neutrality, it’s declined. If it’s solid, it’s approved and scheduled for the next day’s In the News section.
What Gets Rejected?
Common reasons nominations fail:
- Only one or two sources - even if they’re big names
- Reliance on social media or user-generated content
- Events that are speculative (e.g., "A leader might resign tomorrow")
- Too many similar events on the same day
- Summary includes editorializing - "heartbreaking," "unprecedented," "controversial"
There was a case in 2024 where a major celebrity’s death was nominated. The sources were solid. But the summary used the word "legend." It was declined. The editor who submitted it revised it to: "Celebrity X died at age 67 after a long illness." It was approved the next day.
Wikipedia doesn’t care how famous someone is. It cares how well the facts are documented.
How Often Do Items Appear?
Typically, three to five items appear each day. Sometimes fewer. Rarely more than six.
The selection is also balanced across topics: politics, science, culture, sports, and disasters. You won’t see five sports stories in a row unless the week is unusually packed. Editors actively avoid overrepresentation.
For example, in December 2024, the top categories for In the News were:
| Category | Number of Items |
|---|---|
| Politics | 42 |
| Disasters and Accidents | 28 |
| Science and Technology | 21 |
| Culture and Arts | 19 |
| Sports | 17 |
Notice anything? No entertainment gossip. No viral TikTok trends. No celebrity breakups unless they trigger a major legal or cultural shift.
Why Does This Matter?
Wikipedia is one of the most visited websites in the world. Over 1.5 billion people view the main page each month. The In the News section is often the first place people go to understand what’s happening.
That means the entries here become de facto summaries for millions. A poorly written or biased entry can spread misinformation faster than a news alert.
This is why the process is so strict. It’s not about control. It’s about responsibility.
What Happens After an Item Is Published?
Once an item appears on the main page, it’s archived on the In the News page for that date. The entry stays live forever.
But the real work happens behind the scenes. Editors use these items as triggers to improve the main articles. If a candidate for In the News is about a new law, editors update the related Wikipedia article with citations, context, and timeline details.
That’s the hidden value of the system. It doesn’t just report news. It strengthens the entire encyclopedia.
Can You See the Process in Real Time?
Yes. The Candidates page is public. Anyone can watch nominations being added, discussed, and decided.
Some editors monitor it daily. Others only check when something big happens. The process is transparent, open, and documented. You can see exactly why something was accepted or rejected.
It’s not perfect. Mistakes happen. But when they do, they’re corrected quickly. The community has a strong culture of accountability.
How Has This Changed Over Time?
The In the News section started in 2005. Back then, it was just a few bullet points. In 2010, the five criteria were formalized. Since then, the process has become more structured, more consistent, and more resistant to hype.
During the 2020 U.S. election, over 200 nominations were submitted in a single week. The community handled them all - declining 78% of them. Why? Because many were based on unverified claims, premature projections, or partisan outlets.
Wikipedia didn’t try to be first. It waited. And when it published, it was trusted.
What’s the Biggest Myth About In the News?
That it’s run by a small group of elites. It’s not.
Over 3,000 editors have participated in nominations or reviews since 2020. Most are volunteers with full-time jobs - teachers, nurses, engineers, students. They spend their free time checking sources, writing neutral summaries, and pushing back on bias.
The system works because it’s distributed. No one person decides. No algorithm picks. It’s humans, following clear rules, holding each other accountable.
That’s why, when you see something on Wikipedia’s In the News, you can trust it - not because it’s popular, but because it’s been checked.
Can anyone nominate an event for In the News?
Yes, any registered Wikipedia editor can nominate an event. You don’t need special privileges. But you must provide at least three reliable, independent sources published within the last 72 hours, and the event must meet all five inclusion criteria: significance, verifiability, recency, neutrality, and notability.
Why aren’t viral social media trends included?
Wikipedia requires events to be covered by established, independent media outlets. Viral trends on TikTok or Twitter often lack reliable sourcing, are short-lived, and may spread misinformation. Unless a trend triggers a major real-world event - like a protest, policy change, or legal action - it won’t qualify.
How long does it take for a nomination to be approved?
Most nominations are reviewed and decided within 24 hours. If a nomination is missing sources or violates neutrality, it’s declined quickly. Strong nominations with clear, multiple sources are approved within hours.
Can a nominated item be removed after it’s published?
Yes, if new information shows the original summary was inaccurate or misleading. For example, if a report of a death was later proven false, the item is removed from the archive and replaced with a correction. The community maintains a strict standard for accuracy even after publication.
Is there a limit to how many items can appear in one day?
There’s no official cap, but typically three to five items are selected per day. Editors aim for balance across categories and avoid overcrowding. If too many major events occur in a short time, some may be deferred to the next day or archived separately.
