Wikipedia News Desk - Page 17

Leona Whitcombe

Off-Wiki Canvassing and Its Impact on Wikipedia Consensus

Off-wiki canvassing undermines Wikipedia's consensus by allowing external influence on edits. This practice distorts collaboration, erodes trust, and drives away contributors. Learn how it works, why it's banned, and what you can do to protect Wikipedia's integrity.

Leona Whitcombe

Affiliations Committee Changes and Impact on Wikipedia Communities

Changes to Wikipedia's Affiliations Committee in 2025 reshaped how global volunteer groups are supported, leading to faster approvals, better funding, and stronger representation from the Global South. The shift is helping revive editor growth in underrepresented regions.

Leona Whitcombe

Phabricator: Wikipedia's Issue Tracking and Task Management System

Phabricator is the task and bug tracking system powering Wikipedia's technical infrastructure. Used by thousands of volunteers and engineers, it coordinates code changes, bug fixes, and feature development across all Wikimedia projects. Learn how it works and why it's critical to keeping Wikipedia running.

Leona Whitcombe

Reliability of Wikipedia: Myths vs Reality for Scholars

Wikipedia is often dismissed by academics, but research shows scholars use it daily to find context and sources. This article separates myths from reality, showing how Wikipedia supports - not replaces - scholarly work.

Leona Whitcombe

Wikipedia Administrators: Roles and Responsibilities Explained

Wikipedia administrators are volunteer editors with special tools to handle vandalism, block abusive users, and protect articles. They don't control content - they enforce policies. Learn how they're chosen, what they do, and how they're held accountable by the community.

Leona Whitcombe

Protecting Wikipedia Pages During Crisis and Vandalism Surges

Wikipedia faces massive vandalism surges during global crises. Learn how volunteer editors, protection levels, and community checks keep facts alive when misinformation spreads fastest.

Leona Whitcombe

Measuring Knowledge Integrity Across Encyclopedias with Open Benchmarks

Open benchmarks now measure how accurately encyclopedias like Wikipedia and Britannica present facts. Learn how knowledge integrity is being tested, what the results show, and why transparency matters more than ever.

Leona Whitcombe

Press Reviews: How Media Coverage of Wikipedia Stacks Up

Many media stories misrepresent how Wikipedia works, calling it unreliable or chaotic. But the truth is more nuanced: Wikipedia's volunteer-driven system often corrects misinformation faster than traditional news. This article breaks down how press coverage gets it wrong - and what good reporting looks like.

Leona Whitcombe

Open Questions: Can Wikipedia Survive in an AI-Dominated World?

Wikipedia faces an existential challenge as AI tools outpace human editors in delivering fast, but often inaccurate, information. Can open knowledge survive when no one is left to verify it?

Leona Whitcombe

When Wikipedia Should Not Be Used: Red Flags for Reporters

Wikipedia is a useful tool for journalists - but never a source. Learn the red flags that mean you should walk away from Wikipedia and how to find real, reliable information instead.

Leona Whitcombe

How to Maintain a Neutral Point of View in Partisan Political News

Maintaining a neutral point of view in partisan political news is essential for public trust and democracy. This article explains how journalists can report facts without bias, avoid false balance, and rebuild credibility in a polarized media landscape.

Leona Whitcombe

Wikipedia Editor of the Week Recognition Winners

Wikipedia's Editor of the Week recognizes volunteers who make quiet, powerful contributions to knowledge. No pay, no fame-just real impact on how the world understands history, science, and culture.