[WikiEN-l] Wikipedia - first with the news

Tue Apr 12 14:49:02 UTC 2005

This item 
[http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/archives/internet/2005/04/12/wikipedia_first_with_the_news.html] 
from todays' Guardian notes that we had the correct details for [[Andrea 
Dworkin]]'s death date over 24 hours before the mainstream media, and 
also points to the discussion on the talk page when we weren't sure if 
the rumours were true.
---
"Imagine an encyclopedia," wrote blogger Joe Gratz, "that had someone’s 
death noted in their biography before the first major news outlet had 
even published an obituary." The death was that of feminist writer and 
campaigner Andrea Dworkin, the encyclopedia Wikipedia, and Gratz was 
absolutely correct.

Guardian Unlimited reported Dworkin's death, confirmed by her agent, 
shortly before 1800 GMT yesterday, the first major news outlet to do so. 
Though the correct date of her death was posted at the top of her 
Wikipedia biography at least 24 hours earlier.

Wikipedia's discussion page explains how it happened. The news was 
circulating on feminist mailing lists shortly after Dworkin died in her 
sleep on Saturday, and from there it found its way to the encyclopedia 
and some blogs. But a lack of corroboration from the press and certainty 
over the source - again gone over on the discussion page - meant the 
Wikipedia writers and some of their readers could not decide if it was 
true. The correct date was taken down at least once, and the item hardly 
pushed.

One British blogger, Lisa Rullsenberg, found the situation "very 
curious"; it caused confusion here too, unused as we were to researching 
a news story and finding Wikipedia the sole supporting published source, 
breaking the news in its own quiet and understated manner.

-- 
Arwel Parry
http://www.cartref.demon.co.uk/