News and notes WikiCup enters final round, MCDC wraps up activities, 17-year-old hoax article unmasked 2024-09-04
JCW compilation now tracks free DOIs, Wiki Loves Monuments getting started, WMF's status as UN observer stymied by China for fourth time.
In the media AI is not playing games anymore. Is Wikipedia ready? 2024-09-04
Updates from the Portland pol's case, the war in Gaza, and other Wiki-related reports.
News and notes Another Wikimania has concluded 2024-08-14
And Movement Charter ratification vote comments have been published.
In the media Portland pol profile paid for from public purse 2024-08-14
A STORM over an AI that writes articles. And other notes of interest.
News and notes Wikimedia community votes to ratify Movement Charter; Wikimedia Foundation opposes ratification 2024-07-22
Establishment of power-sharing agreement between WMF corporation and volunteer user community in limbo.
News and notes WMF board elections and fundraising updates 2024-07-04
Three new admins, but overall numbers still shrinking.
Cobwebs Counting to a billion — manuscripts don't burn 2024-07-04
Special:Diff/1 and related techno-trivia more complicated than you'd think.
News and notes Wikimedia Foundation publishes its Form 990 for fiscal year 2022-2023 2024-06-08
The Form 990, as well as highlights and FAQs, are now available for review.
News and notes Democracy in action: multiple elections 2024-05-16
WMF trustee elections, U4C results, Italian ArbCom, WMF and Endowment annual reports.
News and notes A sigh of relief for open access as Italy makes a slight U-turn on their cultural heritage reproduction law 2024-04-25
Plus, new updates on the privacy and research ethics whitepaper and the graphs outage situation, and an Iranian former steward is globally banned from Wikimedia projects
In the media Censorship and wikiwashing looming over RuWiki, edit wars over San Francisco politics and another wikirace on live TV 2024-04-25
Plus, tribute songs and shout-outs outweighing vandalism and hoaxes, a dispute about the real king of the platform and other bits of news.
News and notes Universal Code of Conduct Coordinating Committee Charter ratified 2024-03-29
WLM winners announced, Wikimania 2024, a new Wikimedia movement affiliate, and active enwp admins reach a record low.
In the media "For me it’s the autism": AARoard editors on the fork more traveled 2024-03-29
Worldwide women turned blue and controversies on Serbian & French Wikipedia.
Recent research Images on Wikipedia "amplify gender bias" 2024-03-02
And other new findings
News and notes Wikimedia enters US Supreme court hearings as "the dolphin inadvertently caught in the net" 2024-03-02
Plus, the U4C Charter keeps planting seeds, the RfA process is set to become more sustainable, and more news from the Wikimedia ecosystem.
In the media Speaking in tongues, toeing the line, and dressing the part 2024-02-13
The usual odd articles about Wikipedia.
In the media Katherine Maher new NPR CEO, go check Wikipedia, race in the race 2024-01-31
Another wobble, more Ackman, our usual pathological optimist, and football in dirty pants!
News and notes In other news ... see ya in court! 2024-01-10
Let the games begin! The 2024 WikiCup is off to a strong start. With copyright enforcement, AI training and freedom of expression, it's another typical week in the wiki-sphere!
News and notes The Italian Public Domain wars continue, Wikimedia RU set to dissolve, and a recap of WLM 2023 2023-12-24
Not the best of times for Wikipedians across the world, but there are still glimpses of hope...
In the media Consider the humble fork 2023-12-24
Forky on forky on forky, plus a strange donation scheme and other interesting bits of news.
In the media Turmoil on Hebrew Wikipedia, grave dancing, Olga's impact and inspiring Bhutanese nuns 2023-12-04
Plus Apple Pay, fiction, registration, expulsion, and elimination!
Recent research Canceling disputes as the real function of ArbCom 2023-11-20
And other new research findings.
News and notes Update on Wikimedia's financial health 2023-11-20
Plus: Sockpuppet investigators asking for help.
In the media Propaganda and photos, lunatics and a lunar backup 2023-11-20
Comic-con, Media summit, and a classic!
News and notes Where have all the administrators gone? 2023-10-23
Long time passing
In the media History is written by whoever can harness the most editors 2023-10-03
Plus Harvard, Yale, Lords and Commons, partners and trolls!
News and notes Wikimedia power sharing – just an advisory role for the volunteer community? 2023-09-16
Plus: Africa news, funding report, U4C draft, roads fork and another ChatGPT block.
In the media "Just flirting", going Dutch and Shapps for the defence? 2023-09-16
Plus a new judge, an "unimportant" record, and staying in the swim!
In the media Taking it sleazy 2023-08-31
"Poli", which means "many", and "tics", which means "under-the-table Wikipedia article whitewashing campaigns".
In the media History, propaganda and censorship 2023-05-22
Opposing scholars on ArbCom case
Arbitration report Final decision in "World War II and the history of Jews in Poland" 2023-05-22
Includes stronger sourcing restriction, and a nod to the UCoC
News and notes New legal "deVLOPments" in the EU 2023-05-08
... and at WP:Mastodon.
In the media Vivek's smelly socks, online safety, and politics 2023-05-08
Fake fines, false alarms and faux headlines!
Arbitration report "World War II and the history of Jews in Poland" approaches conclusion 2023-05-08
There will likely be more to say next issue.
Special report Signpost statistics between years 2005 and 20222023-04-26
Signpost statistics statistics from 2005 to 2022: In this article, we will look at The Signpost statistics. More precisely: Signpost article statistics by year, TOP 20 titles of Signpost articles, TOP 20 article authors, and the home wikis of article authors.
News and notes Staff departures at Wikimedia Foundation, Jimbo hands in the bits, and graphs' zeppelin burns 2023-04-26
Plus: Wikipedians get own Mastodon account, and Wikiprojects move to uniform quality assessment.
In the media Contested truth claims in Wikipedia 2023-04-26
Covering Russia, Poland, the Vatican, the U.S., and the "perilously thin" boundary between real life and Wikipedia.
Arbitration report Holocaust in Poland, Jimbo in the hot seat, and a desysopping 2023-04-26
No news is good news, and this isn't no news.
News and notes Sounding out, a universal code of conduct, and dealing with AI 2023-04-03
Skynet believed to be in violation of the new Universal Code of Conduct.
Arbitration report "World War II and the history of Jews in Poland" case is ongoing 2023-04-03
Desysop case request still in accept/decline phase.
News and notes Terms of Use update, Steward elections, and Wikipedia back in Pakistan 2023-02-20
UCoC Enforcement Guidelines pass, Wikimedia Enterprise financials, GPTs gone wild, and a speedy deletion criterion removed.
In the media Arbitrators open case after article alleges Wikipedia "intentionally distorts" Holocaust coverage 2023-02-20
Also: Russ Baker's BLP, the digital commons, the NSA, and more on Pakistan.
Opinion Good old days, in which fifth-symbol-lacking lipograms roam'd our librarious litany 2023-01-16
Allow us to bring you back, back, back, to days of Wikifun rampant.
News and notes Wikimedia Foundation ousts, bans quarter of Arabic Wikipedia admins 2023-01-01
Plus admin update and cool tools for the new year.
In the media Odd bedfellows, Elon and Jimbo, reliable sources for divorces, and more 2023-01-01
Sometimes you need to read more than just the headlines!
Technology report Galactic dreams, encyclopedic reality 2022-11-28
Facebook's Galactica demo provides a case study in large language models for text generation at scale: this one was silly, but we cannot ignore them forever.
News and notes English Wikipedia editors: "We don't need no stinking banners" 2022-11-28
Joe Roe's close sows dough woes, manifestos... vetoes? overthrows?
In the media "The most beautiful story on the Internet" 2022-11-28
Ineffective altruism, return of the toaster, Jess Wade keeps wading through it, Russia censors searches, schools embrace Wikipedia.
Featured content Topics, lists, submarines and Gurl.com 2022-10-31
Featured content from October.
In the media A few complaints and mild disagreements 2022-09-30
Was Katherine Maher a former encyclopedia salesperson?
Featured content Farm-fresh content 2022-09-30
This month: A FACBot upgrade, a completed list of lists.
Discussion report Much ado about Fox News 2022-09-30
Source reliability, NPP, and appearance discussions.
News and notes Admins wanted on English Wikipedia, IP editors not wanted on Farsi Wiki, donations wanted everywhere 2022-08-31
jimmy@wikipedia.org donate@wikimedia.org (not a typo?) wants a moment of your time.
In the media Truth or consequences? A tough month for truth 2022-08-31
But Annie Rauwerda is the real thing!
News and notes Information considered harmful 2022-08-01
Wikipedia and human rights, publishers and the Internet Archive, Russia and Wikipedia.
Election guide The chosen six: 2022 Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees elections 2022-08-01
Candidate op-eds, open question spaces, and more.
In the media Editor given three-year sentence, big RfA makes news, Guy Standing takes it sitting down 2022-06-26
Belarusian Mark Bernstein to serve 36 months of "home chemistry" for unapproved posting, Slate covers historically large adminship bid, UBI economist with goofy infobox caption thinks it's funny.
In the media Putin, Jimbo, Musk and more 2022-05-29
A varied collection of "special operations", and interviews.
News and notes Double trouble 2022-04-24
The second case of Wikipedian persecution.
In the media The battlegrounds outside and inside Wikipedia 2022-04-24
What's hot in the media this month.
News and notes Of safety and anonymity 2022-03-27
The diff that resulted in arrest and jail time in Belarus.
In the media Ukraine, Russia, and even some other stuff 2022-03-27
Lenin did not say "Wow, check out those yachts"!
News and notes Impacts of Russian invasion of Ukraine 2022-02-27
Plus, the Steward Elections, Leadership Development Task Force and a contest.
In the media Wiki-drama in the UK House of Commons 2022-02-27
Plus, Wiki Unseen, the "Sports Wars", and much more.
News and notes Feedback for Board of Trustees election 2022-01-30
Plus, the incredible shrinking admin cadre.
In the media Fuzzy-headed government editing 2022-01-30
Get down and party! But no COI editing!
News and notes Jimbo's NFT, new arbs, fixing RfA, and financial statements 2021-12-28
Wrapping up 2021 with a pair of auctions, activity surrounding administrators, and an audit.
In the media The past is not even past 2021-12-28
Even for Wikipedia critics in nappies!
From the editor Here is the news 2021-12-28
And wishing our readers a healthy, fortunate and bountiful 2022.
News and notes The sockpuppet who ran for adminship and almost succeeded 2021-10-31
And will the last person to leave the C-Suite please turn off the lights?
In the media China bans, and is there intelligent life on this planet? 2021-10-31
Beam me up, Scotty – Matt Amodio for sure, and maybe just a few VIPs, billionaires, and Tucker Carlson.
News and notes New CEO, new board members, China bans 2021-09-26
And one new admin!
In the media The future of Wikipedia 2021-09-26
And a bit about the past.
News and notes Enough time left to vote! IP ban 2021-08-29
Just do it!
In the media Larry is at it again 2021-07-25
Bias, propaganda and more murderous mistakes!
News and notes Maher stepping down 2021-02-28
UCC launch.
News and notes 1,000,000,000 edits, board elections, virtual Wikimania 2021 2021-01-31
Who else but Ser Amantio di Nicolao?
In the media The world's press says "Happy Birthday!" with a few twists 2021-01-31
Even the world's richest man is happy we exist!
News and notes Year-end legal surprises cause concern, but Public Domain Day is imminent 2020-12-28
New laws in the US and Europe might enable trolls; sad admin milestone for English Wikipedia, or not?
In the media Concealment, data journalism, a non-pig farmer, and some Bluetick Hounds 2020-12-28
As 2020 draws to a close, this website has been splattered all over the headlines.
Arbitration report 2020 election results 2020-12-28
Congratulations to the new Arbs!
News and notes Jimmy Wales "shouldn't be kicked out before he's ready" 2020-11-29
Arbitration Committee elections begin.
In the media Murder, politics, religion, health and books 2020-11-01
A possible conspiracy and 2 infodemics!
News and notes More large-scale errors at a "small" wiki 2020-09-27
With inline parenthetical citations!
Arbitration report Clarifications and requests 2020-09-27
Who is that guy JzG?
Arbitration report A slow couple of months 2020-08-30
Everybody deserves a vacation!
Discussion report Fox News, a flight of RfAs, and banning policy 2020-08-02
Plus a proposed massive invasion of privacy!
News and notes Progress at Wikipedia Library and Wikijournal of Medicine 2020-06-28
Plus Swedish biographies and the big oops!
In the media Part collaboration and part combat 2020-06-28
Racial justice, Facebook, LGBTQ+, Ryan Merkley, and a woman.
Arbitration report Anti-harassment RfC and a checkuser revocation 2020-06-28
The RfC should keep everybody busy.
Arbitration report Board member likely to receive editing restriction 2020-05-31
Board member receives editing restriction: Sanctions of multiple flavors, and a non-decision on the breadth of discretionary sanctions.
News and notes Unbiased information from Ukraine's government? 2020-04-26
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pitches in.
Discussion report Redesigning Wikipedia, bit by bit 2020-04-26
The Wikimedia community discusses modifying or hiding the sidebar on the left of every page.
Special report Wikipedia on COVID-19: what we publish and why it matters 2020-03-29
Wikipedia presents solid widely-consulted information on COVID-19 and related topics.
News and notes 2018 Wikipedian of the year blocked 2020-03-29
Wheel war on Tatar Wikipedia
Community view Wikimedia community responds to COVID-19 2020-03-29
Individually and in organized groups, Wikimedians stand up and make a difference.
Arbitration report Unfinished business 2020-03-29
A new case, a case returns from limbo, and an RfC being prepared.
Arbitration report Two prominent administrators removed 2020-03-01
Arbitration Committee and the "blue wall of silence".
Recent research Acoustics and Wikipedia; Wiki Workshop 2019 summary 2019-12-27
15 recent papers, and other research news
News and notes What's up (and down) with administrators, articles and languages 2019-12-27
Active administrators and articles achieved are marking milestone metrics, but in diverging directions. Plus, the first time any court has found there exists a constitutional right to read Wikipedia.
In the media "The fulfillment of the dream of humanity" or a nightmare of PR whitewashing on behalf of one-percenters? 2019-12-27
Praise for possibly pansophic Wikipedia from a Nobel laureate collides head-on with real-world events in December.
From the editors Caught with their hands in the cookie jar, again 2019-12-27
You can buy "cleaners" but you might not come away clean.
Discussion report December discussions around the wiki 2019-12-27
Regarding integrity of information presented by Wikipedia, as well as the processes and people who ensure it remains trustworthy.
Arbitration report Announcement of 2020 Arbitration Committee 2019-12-27
ArbCom election results and status of open and requested cases.
News and notes How soon for the next million articles? 2019-11-29
And when will we get the second extraterrestrial edit?
Gallery Winter and holidays 2019-11-29
Some interesting and unusual winter and holiday images.
From the archives WikiProject Spam, revisited 2019-11-29
Veteran editor: Wikipedia is losing existential battle against spam.
Arbitration report Two requests for arbitration cases 2019-11-29
Important or imprudent? Pondering portals. And an editor gets transported off-wiki for good.
Special report Post-Framgate wrap-up 2019-09-30
Summary of actions around a formerly banned former administrator: Arbitration Committee action and withdrawn request for adminship
Special report Administrator cadre continues to contract 2019-07-31
A new record set: fewer than 500 active admins.
Arbitration report A month of reintegration 2019-07-31
Arbitration begins setting new boundaries after the June blow-up
Discussion report A constitutional crisis hits English Wikipedia 2019-06-30
Could this be a new relationship between the Foundation and ArbCom, and between the Foundation and enwiki?
Recent research Research finds signs of cultural diversity and recreational habits of readers 2019-02-28
When watchers want the whole truth, they wind up with the wiki! And Cultural Context Content comes out of a complete cartography.
News and notes Front-page issues for the community 2019-02-28
Encyclopedias for Deletion; Corinne; scholarships; partial blocks; and administrators headcount.
Gallery Signed with pride 2019-02-28
A gallery of user signatures created by Wikipedians themselves.
From the editors Help wanted (still) 2019-02-28
This may be too wordy, verbose and loquacious – and possibly redundant – but as you know, it takes others to check our work, and if there were more people in the Newsroom, we'd be able to double check ourselves and produce a better product for our readership; if you think you are up to it, you are welcome to join us and even copyedit the Editor-in-Chief's article intros.
Essay Optimist's guide to Wikipedia 2019-02-28
Assume good faith even if it kills you.
Arbitration report A quiet month for Arbitration Committee 2019-02-28
Snowed in, maybe.
Discussion report The future of the reference desk 2019-01-31
Plus: new speedy deletion criteria and admin activity requirements.
Arbitration report An admin under the microscope 2019-01-31
Snowman flames newbies? Or just oversensitive snowflakes?
Gallery Sun and Moon, water and stone 2018-12-24
Happy solstice, and happy New Year!
Essay Requests for medication 2018-12-24
When the desire to continue to have the privilege of editing Wikipedia overrides the body's innate desire to choke the living shit out of some bastard who really has it coming.
Discussion report Reliable Sources Noticeboard editors discuss deprecating sources 2018-12-24
A new record low for RfA: Plus: reliable sources, notability, and fallout from the self-blocking software changes.
Arbitration report Year ends with one active case 2018-12-24
GiantSnowman asked to chill, and other disputes addressed by Arbcom (or not).
News and notes Reviewer of the year, WikiCup winner, and the 2019 Wikimedia Summit 2018-12-01
Looking both backward and forward to events concerning the community.
Gallery Intersections 2018-12-01
Biology or technology? Form follows function in nature and the constructed world.
Arbitration report A long break ends 2018-12-01
Arbcom takes its first new case since June.
Technology report Bots galore! 2018-10-28
Bots can do anything you want – well, almost.
In the media Bans, celebs, and bias 2018-10-28
Wikipedia in the news
From the editors The Signpost is still afloat, just barely2018-10-28
A slightly thinner issue, but out on time.
Discussion report Mediation Committee and proposed deletion reform 2018-10-28
Plus: two pending changes-related discussions, notability, and naming conventions.
News and notes European copyright law moves forward 2018-10-01
Wikipedia dodges a bullet in Brussels... maybe.
In the media Knowledge under fire 2018-10-01
Can Wikipedians help save the world's knowledge and shine a light on current events?
Gallery A pat on the back 2018-10-01
A pictorial ode to the end of summer.
From the editor Is this the new normal? 2018-10-01
We keep on publishing as long as you keep on reading.
Arbitration report A quiet month for Arbcom 2018-10-01
No valid new requests for arbitration, no new cases.
Recent research Wehrmacht on Wikipedia, neural networks writing biographies 2018-08-30
Readers prefer the AI's version 40% of the time – but it still suffers from hallucinations.
In the media Quicksilver AI writes articles 2018-08-30
But unfortunately its output is incompatible with open licensing.
Featured content Featured content selected by the community 2018-08-30
Astronauts named Armstrong, babes of the Brits, Cortinarius caperatus and all that.
Discussion report Drafting an interface administrator policy 2018-08-30
Plus: Simple English Wikipedia stays open, a discussion on draft header templates, bias blind spot by admins offered cash?
In the media Blackouts in Europe, Wikipedia and capitalists, WMF Jet Set 2018-07-31
Blackouts in Europe; Wikipedia and capitalists; WMF Jet Set: One secret cabal that watches out for conspiracy theories, and another one out to stymie venture capitalists?
Gallery Independence days, national holidays, and football – all in July 2018-07-31
Depictions of July events in several countries.
Featured content Wikipedia's best content in images and prose 2018-07-31
Spanning the gamut from warfare and destruction to pop culture to celebrations of nature and humanity's achievements.
Arbitration report Status quo processes retained in two disputes 2018-07-31
We don't have "state agents" in a political debate, but couldn't talk about it if there were.
Recent research How censorship can backfire and conversations can go awry 2018-06-29
And: Wikipedians 'driven by a sense of mission', according to researchers.
News and notes Money, milestones, and Wikimania 2018-06-29
Major grants announced, a new milestone for Afrikaans Wikipedia, a new WMF technical engagement team, an effort to start up a new library, two new admins – or maybe three fewer depending on your math.
In the media Much wikilove from the Mayor of London, less from Paekakariki or a certain candidate for U.S. Congress 2018-06-29
Several online battles are juxtaposed with stories about cooperation and good deeds, Arbcom hovering over it all; notwithstanding, a good action movie script is not necessarily found here.
Arbitration report WWII, UK politics, and a user deCrat'ed 2018-06-29
Andrevan requests removal of his admin and crat rights while already blocked for another issue.
Gallery Wine not? 2018-05-24
May 25 is National Wine Day in the United States.
Featured content Featured content selected by the community 2018-05-24
Science, sportspeople, video games, and history feature heavily in the community's picks this month.
Arbitration report Managing difficult topics 2018-05-24
Has an attempt to prevent historical revisionism become a content battleground?
Signpost Future directions for The Signpost 2018-04-26
How to revive and evolve The Signpost ? Big blue-sky proposals and small concrete proposals from the community and from two regular Signpost contributors.
Gallery A look at some famous and not as well-known border tripoints 2018-04-26
Honoring a day in military history, as well as peaceful borders
Featured content Animals, Ships, and Songs 2018-03-29
And other featured content.
News and notes The future is Swedish with a lack of administrators 2018-02-20
Sweden selected for Wikimania 2019; research report on shaping the future; a scarcity of RfAs.
Arbitration report Arbitration committee prepares to examine two new cases 2018-02-20
Editor in self-imposed exile and infobox wars a thorn in the side of arbitration committee.
Arbitration report New cases initiated for inter-editor hostility and other collaboration issues 2018-02-05
New cases requested for inter-editor hostility and other collaboration issues: Politeness and collegial behavior about to be taken up by Arbcom, and perhaps a revisit of the infobox question.
Featured content History, gaming and multifarious topics 2018-01-16
Historical and pop culture articles promoted.
Arbitration report Mister Wiki is first arbitration committee decision of 2018 2018-01-16
In deciding to de-sysop an admin for efforts to evade discussion and review of paid edits made on behalf of a PR firm, Arbitration Committee doesn't significantly change the rules around paid editing, and leaves it up to the community whether to apply special restrictions to administrators.
Featured content Featured content to finish 2017 2017-12-18
Seventeen articles, twenty-nine lists, three pictures and one featured topic were promoted.
Arbitration report Last case of 2017: Mister Wiki editors 2017-12-18
Evidence phase in Mister Wiki editors case is complete; the community is proposing remedies and the Arbitration committee is slated to make a decision by end of year. Meanwhile, voting has closed on 2017 elections.
News and notes Cons, cons, cons 2017-11-24
The first ever Wikidata conference was a con we wanted. Problematic paid editing while in a position of trust: not so much.
In the media Open knowledge platform as a media institution 2017-11-24
Wikipedia seen as flawed but important; conservative think-tank fellow wants his say; volunteer in Madison wants to close the gender gap.
In the media Concern about access and fairness, Foundation expenditures, and relationship to real-world politics and commerce 2017-07-15
A grab bag of (in alphabetical order) alt-right speech, classical scholars, the dark web, elicited European tourism, $500,000 golden parachutes, forgery, the Great Firewall, net neutrality, nukes, paid editing, porn, and terrorism. Maybe we should make a Tom Hanks movie. Oh, and a new text adventure.