Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2006-11-20/In the news
Wikipedia in the news
- By Trödel, November 20, 2006
Chronicle of Higher Education
In an apparent follow-up to its prior article on Wikipedia Can Wikipedia Ever Make the Grade? by Brock Read, The Chronicle of Higher Education published [http://chronicle.com/free/v53/i13/13b01001.htm/ a second article by Ann Kirschner. Kirshner who explains Wikipedia, the Wikipedia phenomenon and her own attempts to edit. She credits "editorial elves" and the recent changes list for wikifying her article and providing formatting and copyedit changes. The addition by an image by another editor intrigues Kirshner enough to struggle through using the history to find Danny Wool added the photo. Wool is subsequently quoted. Kirshner concludes: "for now, Wikipedia works. ... I'm prepared to believe that Wikipedia's millions of eyes will continue its evolution and improve its quality."
Wikipedia Quality
Wikipedia quality continues to be a topic that generates significant coverage in the media. In Australia, The Sidney Herald carried an article criticizing those that trust Wikipedia. [WSYR-TV|ABC-9] in Syracuse ran a report with the lead "If you or maybe your child is doing some research online, you most likely run into Wikipedia." The article notes that not everything is accurate and reports on a Quinnipiac who purposefully added incorrect information. The Dartmouth Review reported on the views of Dartmouth College professors on Wikipedia. Highlights include, Wikipedia is "not the same as a peer-reviewed journal," and "is often useful as a quick orientation tool that requires verification."
Pearson to publish busines wikibook
The Wall Street Journal reports that Pearson PLC is partnering with University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and MIT's Sloan School to create a business book that will be authored and edited using wik processes by an online community committed to the project. Wikipedia is mentioned as "inspiring" the effort.
Information everywhere
In an article about the myriad information and "fact" choices available in the modern world, Will Hutton, of The Observer, references Wikipedia as a site providing those choices. Stating that "pessimists say that we are living in an era in which objectivity is collapsing, [where you] seek for what you want to be true..." He concludes that "pessimists are right except in one respect - they underestimate the ability of individuals collectively to want to understand, notwithstanding their prejudices and beliefs, and, thus, ultimately the power of truth to win out." He claims that just like China could not resist Wikipedia, western media "cannot resist the demand that we be able to trust them."
Milton Friedman
Marketwatch.com, in an article covering the death of Milton Friedman identified Wikipedia as being what the "advocate of free markets as a means to create political and social freedom ... might [use as] a great example of how free markets can produce efficiencies." The article subsequently quoted 2 paragraphs from the Wikipedia entry on Friedman.
Wikipedia explodes in growth
So claims Tim Krohn in an article in the Mankato Free Press. Krohn inteviews Max Hailperin, the chairman of the local college's mathmatics department. Hailperin warns readers not to "trust anything as an authoritative source of information." However, he also says, "if it’s some noncontroversial, factual piece of information, chances are what you find there is correct." The article also reports on Wikipedia's coverage of local areas of interest.
Wikipedia as source
- In thier report on the 2006 Atlantic Hurricane season Colorado State University professors Philip J. Klotzbach and William M. Gray credit Wikipedia as being "...very helpful in putting together this tropical cyclone summary."
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Continuing coverage
- China reblocks • In addition to the articles mentioned in /China Unblock, coverage was provided by CNN; FOX News and many others.
- Citizendium • Student Newspaper from University of Alberta; Student Newspaper from Perdue; and CBS-8 in San Diego interviewed Sanger and mentioned that Wikipedia "was launched right here in San Diego."
Wikipedia as source
Also this week: Arbitration series — Search and Wikipedia — Intellipedia — German Wikipedia — News and notes — Press coverage — Features and admins — Arbitration