Signpost Surveys: How Wikipedia’s Volunteer Newspaper Tracks Community Trends
When you read a story on Signpost surveys, polls and feedback collections run by The Signpost, Wikipedia’s volunteer-run newspaper, to measure community sentiment on editing policies, governance, and technical changes. Also known as Wikipedia community surveys, these aren’t just data points—they’re snapshots of the people who keep the world’s largest encyclopedia alive. Unlike corporate surveys, these are written by editors, for editors. They ask hard questions: Are new tools making editing easier or just more confusing? Do arbitration decisions feel fair? Is the platform becoming too hostile for newcomers? The answers shape what changes get made—and which ones get dropped.
Signpost surveys relate directly to Wikipedia community, the global network of volunteers who write, edit, moderate, and defend Wikipedia’s content without pay. Also known as Wikipedia editors, this group includes everything from retirees fact-checking local history to students improving articles for class credit. These surveys help the community understand itself. For example, when a survey showed rising frustration over bot-heavy edits, it led to new guidelines on automation transparency. When another revealed that women over 45 were becoming the fastest-growing group of new editors, it pushed outreach efforts into rural and non-tech spaces. They also connect to Wikipedia governance, the system of policies, committees, and informal norms that decide how content is managed and who gets to make decisions. Also known as Wikipedia policy framework, this includes bodies like ArbCom and the Foundation’s board, but the real power often lies in what editors vote for in these surveys. Surveys don’t just ask opinions—they test the health of trust. One survey asked if editors believed their edits would be reverted unfairly. Nearly 40% said yes. That number didn’t just get reported—it sparked a major review of moderation tools.
What you’ll find below is a collection of articles that grew out of these surveys. You’ll read about how editor personas affect policy debates, why sockpuppet investigations spike after certain elections, and how local news reliability gaps show up in survey responses from African and South Asian contributors. These aren’t abstract reports. They’re the real consequences of what happens when thousands of volunteers speak up—and when someone actually listens.
Community Feedback on The Signpost: Survey Results and Reader Insights
Community feedback on The Signpost reveals readers want more global voices, shorter articles, and stories about quiet editors. Survey results show how Wikipedia's newspaper is evolving to better serve its community.
