Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2007-04-02/In the news

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In the news

By Lumos3, Tariqabjotu, and Zanimum, 2 April 2007

Citizendium

The launch of Citizendium as a serious rival to Wikipedia created a lot of media interest. Some news media continued their scepticism that Wikipedia’s open door policy can be made to work and looked forward to a tighter regime in its rival. Others focused on the rivalry between Wikipedia’s Jimbo Wales and Citizendium’s Larry Sanger. The significance of Sanger’s part in the creation of Wikipedia was played up by him to be an equal co-partner and played down by Wales, to be one of 20 others involved. See

April Fool's on Wikipedia

For the first time the world's eyes are turned on Wikipedia for its April Fool's jokes. Wikipedia came out classy by featuring the confusing-at-first-read-yet-totally-true George Washington (inventor). The main page read:

“ George Washington was an early inventor of instant coffee, and worked to ensure a full supply to soldiers fighting at the front. Early on, his campaign was based in Brooklyn, but later he crossed into New Jersey toward a more profitable position. In the countryside, he demonstrated a love of wild creatures, and was often seen with a bird or a monkey on his shoulder. Washington's choice beverage was taken up by the soldiers for its psychoactive properties, even though it tasted terrible. Some thought his brewed powder could even remedy the chemical weapons then in use. But, despite this, Washington failed in his first bid for the Presidency, as papers were filed too late, and the nominator forgot to tell him about it. ”

This choice was too staid and verifiable to make April Fool's Day coverage in any media outlets, as were the DYK facts. One of the bullets read "..that Rush Limbaugh was a U.S. ambassador to India?" and "...that Richard de Southchurch, Sheriff of Essex, planned to attack London with burning cocks?"

Everything else Wikipedia

You think Net is all true? You've been punk'd, Orlando Sentinel, March 30, 2007.
Columnist stunned that Wikipedia can be edited by anybody, and at that matter surprised anyone would ever bother to look up, let alone edit the profile of Sinbad.
Wikipedia is more useful, and credible, than you think, The Northerner, March 28, 2007.
Rebuke of recent criticisms in a letter to the editor.
Wikipedia encyclopedia is banned at some colleges, The Chronicle, March 28, 2007.
Duke University students and faculty discuss the concept of using Wikipedia as a source after other universities, including the University of California, Los Angeles, ban the practice.

Everything else encyclopedia

Everything else wiki

IBM developing wiki how-to tool, ZDNet, March 29, 2007.
Described as being wiki-based software, all "Koala" does is continuously create a profile of you, to fill out forms and click links.


Also this week: Poll — Errors — AMA — NYT correction — WikiWorld — News and notes — Press coverage — Features and admins — Technology — Arbitration