Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2006-11-13/In the news#Influence of Wikipedia
{{Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Templates/Signpost-article-header-v2 |{{{1|Wikipedia in the news}}}|By Trödel}}
= Influence of Wikipedia =
Several articles discussed the influence of Wikipedia. In [http://www.law.com/jsp/legaltechnology/pubArticleLT.jsp?id=1163066720949 What does Wikipedia say about you], Law.com advises readers to monitor Wikipedia's article about their firm and prominent members because of the influence Wikipedia has.
The Dallas Morning News [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/ptech/stories/110906dnbustechbits.2cb432d.html reported] on Google's ranking criteria and the results that make Wikipedia articles and shopping sites appear first in results list.
In an editorial released by [http://www.opinioneditorials.com/guestcontributors/rcurry_20061113.html opinioneditorials.com], Rex Curry reports on the references Wikipedia makes to Curry's own research in an apparent attempt to use Wikipedia to bolster his credibility. In an email from Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia founder, Wales [http://mail.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2006-November/056512.html asked Wikipedians] to carefully verify the referenced articles.
= Reputation of Wikipedia =
The New Haven Register reports in [http://www.nhregister.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17455608&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=517515&rfi=8 Academia split on free-for-all Wikipedia] that students should be "skeptical about the content, but people should be skeptical about all the content they read..."
A prank that changed the president of Kazakhstan to Borat was highlighted in [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds39053.html a short article] by Digital Spy.
= Wales interviewed and honored =
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, was the topic of articles in two major UK newspapers. The Telegraph carried a very long article, titled [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml;jsessionid=5IGW4ZLWT1XADQFIQMFSFFWAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/arts/2006/10/28/ftwiki28.xml&page=1 Wiki's World] discussing the unlikely success story, the varying quality level of different articles, the issues involved in the biographies of living persons, and other topics.
The Guardian reported on an [http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1939018,00.html interview of Wales] (including an audio file of excerpts of the interview) where Wales answered questions about Wikipedia's success, his initial vision of the project and the dynamics of the Wikipedian community.
Wales was also given the "Visionary Achievement" award by the [http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2006/11/06/daily44.html?jst=b_ln_hl Tampa Bay Technology Forum]. In a more lighthearted vein, Wales played the 'Not My Job' game on the [http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=35&prgDate=11-04-2006&view=storyview November 4, 2006] NPR quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!. Wales was asked three obscure questions originating from Wikipedia articles and got none of them correct.
= Wikipedia processes generate coverage =
Deleted Wikipedia articles also have generated minor media coverage. Ars Technica covered the deletion of [http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061106-8161.html NPA Theory of personality]; and Gawker.com covered the deletion of the [http://www.gawker.com/news/cory-kennedy/internet-it-girl-cory-kennedys-wikipedia-bio-deleted-internet-mourns-loss-213872.php "Internet It Girl" article] and how some [http://www.gawker.com/news/wikipedia/the-best-of-wikipedias-dregs-212939.php rejected Wikipedia articles live on].
= Continuing coverage =
The following topics in prior "In the news" coverage continued to generate media reports:
- Brandt complaints • FOX News covered [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227747,00.html suspected plagiarism]. As did [http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/11/06/wikipedia-plagiarism.html CBC Canada].
- Hackers use Wikipedia • Wide coverage in [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/cnet/2006-11-06-wikipedia-virus_x.htm USA Today], [http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=e-business&articleId=9004782&taxonomyId=71&intsrc=kc_top Computer World], [http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127757-c,onlinesafety/article.html PC World], [http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/11/05/183240&from=rss Slashdot], and others.
- Intellipedia • Indian Express in [http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/16445.html Wikipedia of Secrets] (a reprint of the 5 Nov [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/03/AR2006110302015.html Washington Post story])
- China unblocks Wikipedia • CNet claimed that China [http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/blog/fluorescentparadise/0,39059288,61965876,00.htm unblocked Wikipedia] because the Propaganda Department was convinced that it is neutral. [http://www.andrewlih.com/blog/2006/11/13/chinese-wikipedias-surge-in-growth/ Andrew Lih's blog] reported a surge in new users.
= Wikipedia as source =
- Rumsfeld • [http://search.thestar.com/SearchWeb/Search.do?query=wikipedia&Submit2.x=23&Submit2.y=16&Submit2=Go The Toronto Star] quoted Wikipedia's article on Socrates in reporting on Donald Rumsfeld's resignation.
- Financial • Seeking alpha, an online financial news and stock information site, claims Wikipedia [http://etf.seekingalpha.com/article/20145 "is quite up-to-date on statistics in general and...provides data from a good source of industry information"].
- Define Blog • VillageSoup, an alliance of local media, references Wikipedia to help [http://waldo.villagesoup.com/Community/story.cfm?storyID=81717 define the term "blog."]
Also this week: Chinese Wikipedia
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