Wikipedia Controversy

Wikipedia, the encyclopaedia that relies on volunteers to pen nearly 4 million articles, is about as accurate in covering scientific topics as Encyclopaedia Britannica, the journal Nature wrote in an online article. The finding, based on a side-by-side comparison of articles covering a broad swath of the scientific spectrum, comes as Wikipedia faces criticism over the accuracy of some of its...

The founder of the world's leading online encyclopaedia today conceded that "editing your own entry on Wikipidia is generally not a good thing", after it was shown that he had amended his entry 18 times. In the latest twist of controversy to affect the volunteer-compiled online resource, Jimmy Wales told Times Online that he regretted repeatedly revising the encyclopaedia's entry on himself. "I...

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The Internet's free encyclopedia has begun an international fundraising effort. "In the coming year, the Wikipedia Foundation anticipates spending millions keeping up with increases in demand, improving our software, and continuing work toward our goal of providing free knowledge to everyone," said a message on Wikipedia.org. "We can do it with your help." In a message...

Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger is to launch an alternative to the utopian, all-comers, anything-goes web site, and has raised $10m to hire experts to help edit it. A year ago Sanger, who worked on Wikipedia's predecessor Nupedia and left the project in 2002, criticized its bias against expertise, and his new venture reflects these concerns. Digital Universe aims to garner the best of both...

A new online information service launching in early 2006 aims to build on the model of free online encyclopedia Wikipedia by inviting acknowledged experts in a range of subjects to review material contributed by the general public. Called Digital Universe, the project is the brainchild of, among others, USWeb founder Joe Firmage and Larry Sanger, one of Wikipedia's earliest creators. By providing...

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has been shot dead, according to Wikipedia, the online, up-to-the-minute encyclopedia. Apparently, the assassin was a "friend" of the victim of a recent controversy which ironically, smeared former Robert F Kennedy aid John Seigenthaler as a suspect in the assassination of both Kennedy brothers. That claim, which the site carried for several months, along with the...

In a bid to curtail vandalism and malicious entries in the free online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, the publication’s editors have today officially implemented a semi-protection policy for certain articles. Essentially, the measure prevents newly registered users and all unregistered users from editing pages. However, the Wikipedia editors said that semi-protection is only to be applied if a page is...

Coverage of Wikipedia in the popular press veers between two extremes. It's either the admirable heroics of plucky amateurs - it's Neasden FC winning the FA Cup - or it's the latest net threat to civilization. This week a survey by Nature gave sympathetic news editors the chance to revisit the first view. Accuracy of Wikipedia matches Britannica, review shows, boasts CBC. Wikipedia as accurate as...

Wikipedians have taken to heart the Mail & Guardian Online's recent article "Can you trust Wikipedia?" (November 10), which evaluated the quality of entries on this popular online encyclopedia. The M&G Online article looked at eight Wikipedia entries, including ones about sangomas, the media in South Africa, the African National Congress, boerewors and the country's economy. South African experts...

"If your mother says she loves you, check it out" stands as one of the most treasured journalistic maxims, a reminder that no assertion, no matter how likely it seems, should be taken at face value. Now, thanks to a volunteer online encyclopedia, we can add another: "If Wikipedia says John Seigenthaler plotted to kill the Kennedys, check it out." Wikipedia, the free digital reference book that has...