Wikimania 2021: Welcome to the world of Wikimedians … the online edition!

In an alternate, COVID-19-free universe, hundreds of Wikimedians — the community of volunteers who make Wikipedia and other free knowledge projects possible — would have gathered in Bangkok, Thailand, in August 2020 for the sixteenth annual Wikimania conference. They would have met in person, no social distancing to worry about, exploring sites like the Grand Palace, snacking….

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Project Rewrite: Tell the missing stories of women on Wikipedia and beyond

Think of a historical event, one you learned about in school. Maybe an expedition, a treaty, or a speech. How about a years-long atrocity, or a record-breaking achievement? When you picture this event, who are the central characters? Now, ask yourself if you know the women’s side of the story. For as long as written….

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Elevating Wikimedia: a Universal Code of Conduct for free knowledge

Wikipedia began 20 years ago with a radical premise: to build a free encyclopedia to which anyone could contribute. That idea has grown into an inspiring, aspirational vision: to create a world in which every single person can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The values at the core of this promise, openness….

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Wikipedia Embraces First-of-Its Kind Universal Code of Conduct, Conceived For The New Internet Era

February 2, 2021. The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that administers Wikipedia, launched a first-of-its-kind Universal Code of Conduct that expands on the project’s existing policies to create a global set of community standards for addressing negative behavior on the site. More than 50% of the global population has access to the internet, an increase that….

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Chestnut-tailed starling (Sturnia malabarica), Satchari National Park

The majesty of nature (and an abundance of birds) on full display in Wiki Loves Earth 2020

In the volcanic valleys of Russia, a red fox lies alert amongst chossy boulders; in the treetops of Thailand, an owl precariously slumbers; and in the forests of Bangladesh,  a venomous pit viper stalks its prey. As unprecedented as 2020 has been, this year’s Wiki Loves Earth photography competition presents a stunning view of the….

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Ceiling of Cincinnati Union Terminal featuring a US flag

How Wikipedia Is Preparing For The 2020 U.S. Election

If the internet is the most important battleground in next week’s U.S. presidential election, then Wikipedia is the Web’s neutral zone. Last month, U.S. federal agencies issued a public service announcementwith a warning that bad actors could use the internet to spread disinformation in an effort to discredit the legitimacy of the voting process. As….

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Celebrating the people who go above and beyond to build free knowledge: Meet our 2020 Wikimedian of the Year

When I first created Wikipedia back in 2001, the internet was a very different place. Only seven percent of people worldwide had a broadband connection, and more people spent time building personal websites than getting their news online. I knew what I wanted to create: a free encyclopedia, written by volunteers, for everyone in the….

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ELNÒS, Roncadelle, Italy

Wikimedia Foundation Board announces Community Culture Statement, enacts new standards to address harassment and promote inclusivity across projects

Today, the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees voted to ratify new trust and safety standards for Wikipedia and all other Wikimedia projects. The standards, as outlined in a new Community Culture Statement, provide direction and priority to address harassment and incivility within the Wikimedia movement and create welcoming, inclusive, harassment-free spaces in which people can….

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İki buçuk yıldan uzun zamanın ardından Türkiye’den Wikipedia’ya erişim açıldı

Bugün, Wikipedia’nın 19. doğum gününde, Wikimedia Vakfı Türkiye’den Wikipedia’ya erişimin yeniden açılmakta olduğuna ilişkin haberler aldı.* Bu son gelişme, Anayasa Mahkemesi’nin Türkiye yetkililerinin iki buçuk yıldan uzun süren engelini 26 Aralık 2019 kararı ile anayasaya aykırı bulmasının ardından gerçekleşti. Bugün erken saatlerde Anayasa Mahkemesi kararın tam metnini kamuya açık olarak paylaştı, hemen ardından Wikipedia’ya erişimin….

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Welcome back, Turkey!

Access to Wikipedia restored in Turkey after more than two and a half years

Today, on Wikipedia’s 19th birthday, the Wikimedia Foundation has received reports that access to Wikipedia in Turkey is actively being restored.* This latest development follows a 26 December 2019 ruling by the Constitutional Court of Turkey that the more than two and a half year block imposed by the Turkish government was unconstitutional. Earlier today,….

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