Wikipedia Editor

Wikipedia editor
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NOTE: I AM CLOSED TO WIKIPEDIA INQUIRIES FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT THIS TIME.

**TIME PERMITTING, I DEVELOP OR UPDATE WIKIPEDIA PAGES FOR CLIENTS ONLY AT NO CHARGE —  IF THEY HAVE A DOZEN (OR SO) CREDIBLE THIRD-PARTY REFERENCES AND MEET WIKIPEDIA’S NOTABILITY REQUIREMENTS.

 

What is Wikipedia?

The answer is below.

Wikipedia is a multilingual open-collaborative online encyclopedia created and maintained by a community of volunteer editors using a wiki-based editing system. It is one of the 15 most popular websites as ranked by Alexa, as of August 2020. Featuring no ads, it is hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, an American non-profit organization funded primarily through donations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia

My Services as a Wikipedia Editor

You might also ask, “But what’s a Wikipedia editor? What does that mean?”

Well, while most people around the world simply read Wikipedia pages, a group of “Wikipedians” help keep the Wikipedia site updated. We surveil pages for grammar and punctuation, as well as accuracy. We can correct information, delete misinformation, and add content. We are volunteers.

I began editing for Wiki simply as a way to give back as a writer and editor, especially in an age when online “facts” may not be facts at all and require verification as never before. Once I became proficient, I began to help others with simple corrections.

For instance, some of my author clients were surprised to find that a Wikipedia article already exists about them, their companies, their inventions, etc. — but what if the article is outdated or not factual? If an article needs simple amending or updating, I can assist.

Wikipedia Page Development

It’s one thing to simply update a page. Creating entire pages from scratch, however, is a whole different animal. It’s actually quite a bit of work. Therefore, time permitting, I might volunteer to develop Wikipedia pages for my author clients at no charge — assuming they want a page and meet the notability and third-party reference requirements. Note that any image used must have a release from the copyright holder — meaning, you can’t just use a head shot. Your photographer must release the image for universal use before it’s included on a Wikipedia page.

Examples of Editing and Development

See Pettis Norman’s Wikipedia page. He’s the author of The Pettis Norman Story: A Journey through the Cotton Fields, to the Super Bowl, and into Servant Leadership and I’m his book editor. Much to Pettis’s surprise, his page already existed before we began our collaboration. It needed updated, which I was glad to tackle. Once his book published, it needed updated again. We are now working on adding his image to the page.

How Do People Create a Wikipedia Page?

A lot of people aren’t aware that they can go directly to Wikipedia and request that a page be created. This is why Wikipedia’s “Requested Articles” page is such a valuable resource.

You might ask, “Can I pay someone to develop a Wikipedia page for me?”

There are many companies that charge for Wikipedia page development — although this is generally against Wikipedia ethics. There has been controversy surrounding paid Wikipedia articles due to abuse and lack of neutrality, as well as conflict of interest guidelines, plus disclosure requirements that must be met. You, your company or your invention must meet notability criteria as well.

I’ve heard a few people say, “Well, I’ll just become a Wikipedian and write my own page.”

The problem is, it’s generally against Wikipedia standards for you to write a Wikipedia page about yourself or your company or invention. The rationale is that it’s difficult to remain “neutral” in these instances. Note that Wikipedia is not a promotional medium for advertising, marketing or public relations — pages created for these reasons can be deleted by Wikipedia administrators.

So what can you do to have your own page(s) developed? Again, I recommend that you visit the “Requested Articles” page.

Help Desk and Contact Links

If you are having trouble with Wikipedia updates, content, photos, etc. or have general questions, try the links below:

Becoming a Wikipedian

You, too, can join the Wikipedia community, become a Wikipedia editor, and help others. If you feel called to volunteer and wish to contribute, then explore Wikipedia and get started!

People with writing and editing backgrounds may find the Wikipedia platform easy to use. Wikipedia has its own style guide and plenty of resources for learning (cheatsheets, community portal, Help Desk), so consider becoming a Wikipedian yourself. It will enable you to update, correct, create and help the world of Wikipedia become a more useful and reliable resource for millions of people.

Contact me about your book project, and let’s consult.

melaniesaxton@icloud.com