Wikipedia:WikiProject Chicago/Priority Scale
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| Label | Criteria | Examples |
| Top | High probability that non-Chicagoans would look this up. Subject is a must-have for a print encyclopedia. Must have had a large impact on non-Chicagoans, across several generations, and in the majority of the world in a role as a Chicagoan or as a Chicago institution. Examples, would be Hall of Fame athletes, world class institutions, important national politicians, world class physical structures, and must see tourist attractions. For instance, Michael Jordan, elite basketball player, but his accomplishments have affected and inspired people outside of basketball and in many other countries besides his nation of origin and several generations. Going forward, no member should give this rating to any Chicago article without first getting Project approval from the other members. Note that an athlete who plays briefly in Chicago before going on to a Hall of Fame career does not count. A prime example is Dominik Hasek who has been honored extensively for his hockey accomplishments. We must emphasize role as a Chicagoan. This is easily seen at Barack Obama who was born in Hawaii, but is a mid priority for Wikipedia:WikiProject Hawaii.
Obama also serves as an example of high priority in Chicago for as an individual who rises to prominence at a national or international level as an extension of a Chicago role. |
Michael Jordan, Barack Obama |
| High | Must have had (A) a large impact on Chicagoans and an impact on non-Chicagoans, across a couple of generations in a role as a Chicagoan or as a Chicago institution or (B) a prominent national and/or international role that had a large impact on non-Chicagoans and an impact on Chicagoans. Subject contributes a depth of knowledge. Examples would be very important buildings, any currently serving Chicagoland U.S. Congressman, important Chicago athletes, and important institutions. | (A) Chicago Board of Trade Building (B) Jesse Jackson, Jr. |
| Mid | Must have had a role that was (A) Important to Chicagoans for role as a Chicagoan or as a Chicago institution, (B) a prominent national and/or international role that had a large impact on non-Chicagoans and but had a limited role as a Chicagoans (C) both of moderate national and/or international importance and moderate local importance. Subject fills in more minor details. Examples would be interesting buildings, personalities and architectural elements. Other examples would be nationally prominent individuals who played no significant role as a Chicagoan before rising to such prominence. Here longevity may be a point of distinction because it is certainly hoped that a building such as Joffrey Tower becomes important to non-Chicagoans over time. Many current and recent statewide elected Illinois politicians would fall under type (C) here unless they rose from prominent Chicago positions. | (A) Joffrey Tower (B) Nancy Reagan, Dominik Hasek, Hillary Clinton (C) Joan Cusack, Richard Durbin |
| Low | Subject is notable to select Chicagoans for role as a Chicagoan or as a Chicago institution. Subject is mainly of specialist interest. Examples would be (A) other buildings and narrow topics, (B) Professional athletes of moderate importance who briefly played in Chicago, (C) Alumni of local universities that have become notable article subjects for non-Chicago related roles.
The most contentious of these types has been the alumni type. Persons may be listed in Chicago related categories due to their place of birth, place where they were reared as youths, place where they were educated (high school, college, graduate school), place where they performed their notable service/acts, place where they resided as adults. Arguably, the place where they were educated is most likely to both trigger a Chicago category tag and yet be of seeming minor significance. Generally, an article subject notable enough to merit a biographical Wikipedia entry is a (positive or negative) role model for many who are current and recent students of the institution of which they are an alumnus and who have an interest in the particular field of notability. In college towns (e.g. Ann Arbor, MI), where the population ebbs and flows with the academic calendar, alumni may be even more important to Wikipedia editors interested in contributing to the articles related to that geographical region. Notable politicians may be important to law students, politics and history majors; Wall Street Chieftans may be important to business school students, economics and finance majors; and famous scientists may be important to medical students and various science majors. Thus, each alumnus is of interest to select persons. In general, they will be of less import and thus be a lower editorial priority than “people from a region” who are likely to have roots in the region that are likely merit return visits that make them more notable to others from the region. |
(A) Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows (B) Lawrence Funderburke (C) Jon Corzine |
