Absolutely! Maybe these FAQ can be helpful as a kind of preparation for
media inquiries. Just so you know about the kind of questions that the media
here in Germany directed at us after that initial press release. We don't
distribute them to journalists.
Best
Michael
2011/6/16 Jimmy Wales <jwales(a)wikia-inc.com>
One tip - you don't want to publish an FAQ with a
negative question in
it that people wouldn't likely have thought to ask in the first place.
You do want that in an internal document to train people what our best
answer is to a negative or hostile question, but you never want to put
the negative question into the hands of the reporter to start with...
--Jimbo
On 6/16/11 12:23 PM, Michael Jahn wrote:
You make a really good point here, thanks!
Michael
2011/5/30 FT2 <ft2.wiki(a)gmail.com <mailto:ft2.wiki@gmail.com>>
The 5th bullet troubles me a bit, it doesn't really feel like it's
addressing the question. Perhaps one of these approaches might
suggest ideas to someone else:
*Aren't you doing this for publicity reasons only?*
We are serious about the initiative. We want Wikipedia to be
recognized as World Heritage. Among Wikipedia's defining points is
its openness. This initiative was proposed by volunteers within one
chapter, finally gaining global discussion and agreement at the very
highest level. From volunteer proposal to worldwide initiative, we
believe that in doing this, the world will recognize its digital
resources, the immense cultural value of knowledge, and the loss to
all of humanity if suddenly, we had to return to a world without
them.
Publicity also means public awareness of Wikipedia and free
knowledge...
>
> *_OR_
> *
> We are serious about the initiative. We want Wikipedia to be
> recognized as World Heritage. We seek the awareness and debate that
> comes with this application. We believe that the world should
> recognize its digital resources, the immense cultural value of
> edifices of knowledge as well as stone, and the loss to us all if
> suddenly, we had to return to a world lacking them.
Publicity also means public awareness of Wikipedia and free
knowledge...
The point being to emphasize it's a grass roots initiative endorsed
gradually by others worldwide. "Publicity stunts" don't get that.
FT2
On Mon, May 30, 2011 at 1:39 PM, Michael Jahn
<michael.jahn(a)wikimedia.de <mailto:michael.jahn@wikimedia.de>>
wrote:
Hello everybody,
media coverage of "Wikipedia for World Heritage!" increases and
so do questions from the press. Many of them are likely to
reappear time after time and internationally. Since Itzik and
Ted asked for something like this, here is a preliminary draft
of FAQs about Wikipedia for World Heritage that we adapted after
the first media reactions came in last week. Maybe it is useful
to share some basic external communication outline.
Please, feel free to improve and extend this draft! Let's work
on this together.
Best
Michael
*Why do you want Wikipedia to be recognized as a World Cultural
Heritage site? The UNESCO Memory of the World seems more
appropriate.*
We are convinced that Wikipedia fits all three UNESCO
categories: World Cultural Heritage, Intangible Cultural
Heritage and Memory of the World. However, we want to start the
application for World Cultural Heritage precisely because of the
underlying World Heritage Convention. The Convention dates back
to 1972. It refers to "sites" as candidates for World Heritage
in a completely non-digital context. Enhanced meanings of the
concept, like the possibility of a "website", could not have
been thought of back then. Those evolved later. Today digital
sites have a profound impact on all areas of interest. Culture
is one of them. Wikipedia allows for a global collaborative
interchange of knowledge. It is unprecedented and truly a
"masterpiece of human creative genius". These latter words are
quoted from the first UNESCO criterion for World Heritage
recognition. It fits Wikipedia today and had the free
encyclopedia been what it is today in 1972, the World Heritage
Convention would likely have been composed differently.
*It is very unlikely that you will reach your goal. What if you
fail?*
When Wikipedia came to life ten years ago, most people deemed it
impossible to create a valuable encyclopedia that could be
edited by anyone. The concepts of free knowledge and
collaborative amateur work seemed implausible. The critics have
been proven wrong. We believe that it is also possible to have
the largest collection of human knowledge recognized as a World
Heritage. The formal application process takes years. If we
fail, it will be after years of careful consideration and
valuable discussions about the meaning that free knowledge has
in modern society.
*
*
*World Heritage sites are meant to be preserved. What is it
about Wikipedia that you think should be protected?*
Wikipedia is the largest evolving collection of human knowledge.
Its defining quality is openness, the greatest good of free
knowledge. We must secure free access to Wikipedia in the future.
*But Wikipedia's content is edited all the time! How could you
preserve it?*
This is not about preserving the content of Wikipedia in a
specific state. What needs to be preserved is access to free
knowledge. Every single article can be edited or deleted. This
has been the core of the free encyclopedia from the very start.
It has enabled a level of participation beyond anything the
sharing of knowledge has ever known. We need to preserve
Wikipedia's open character and the unique possibility it gives
humanity to constantly improve and share in the sum of its
knowledge.
*Aren't you doing this for publicity reasons only?*
We are serious about the initiative. We want Wikipedia to be
recognized as World Heritage. Publicity means public awareness
of Wikipedia and free knowledge. Even today many people do not
know how to contribute to the free encyclopedia or its sister
projects. Increased public awareness means more information. The
more people discuss the projects and get interest in details,
the better. Wikimedia Chapters all over the world support the
global community with numerous activities and projects. We want
to create awareness and acceptance for what Wikipedia really is.
It is more than just a convenient way to access tons of
information for free. Wikipedia is at the front of the free
knowledge movement. We want to take the chance and educate
people regarding the concept behind Wikipedia.
*
*
*Only ten years have passed since Wikipedia was founded. Is it
not too soon to apply for World Heritage recognition?*
The fact that Wikipedia as a project is this young**makes its
accomplishments all the more fascinating. Wikipedia is here to
stay. In only ten years Wikipedia has reshaped access to
knowledge for millions and millions of people all over the
world. It is a pioneer of the digital age. The ten year
anniversary is a good opportunity to take a step back and look
at what hundreds of thousands of volunteers have achieved so
far. **A perfect opportunity to take a look ahead, as well. What
can we do to realize our vision of enabling each and everybody
to share in the sum of all knowledge!? One answer is: Make
people aware of the cultural impact Wikipedia has.
**
*Why apply to this particular institution, the UNESCO?*
The UNESCO World Heritage agreement is the most successful
agreement on the protection of culture and nature that the
international community has ever reached.187 countries have
signed it.
**
*Who is in charge of the project?*
The international community. The idea was developed in Germany,
but this is an international project. All Wikimedia Chapters are
invited to participate. Many of them have already joined the
initiative.
*Which UNESCO World Heritage criteria does Wikipedia meet? *
Some, e.g."the site represents a masterpiece of human creative
genius". Meeting one is already sufficient in theory. However,
our main objective is rather to emphasize Wikipedia’s overall
cultural relevance.
*A petition has been started to support the initiative. That’s
not the formal way. Does Wikipedia also apply formally for World
Heritage status? *
Yes! However, the formal process requires years of application
via national states. Right now a petition signed by people from
all over the world wonderfully represents the idea behind
Wikipedia.
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****Unterstützen Sie Freies Wissen mit einer SMS. Senden Sie
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Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. | Eisenacher Straße 2 | 10777 Berlin
Tel. (030) 219 158 260
Stellen Sie sich eine Welt vor, in der jeder Mensch freien
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Sie uns dabei!
http://spenden.wikimedia.de/
****Unterstützen Sie Freies Wissen mit einer SMS. Senden Sie
einfach WIKI an 81190. Mit 5 Euro sichern Sie so die
Verfügbarkeit und Weiterentwicklung von Wikipedia.****
Wikimedia Deutschland - Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien
Wissens e.V. Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts
Berlin-Charlottenburg unter der Nummer 23855 B. Als gemeinnützig
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Stellen Sie sich eine Welt vor, in der jeder Mensch freien Zugang zu der
Gesamtheit des Wissens der Menschheit hat. Helfen Sie uns dabei!
*Helfen Sie mit, dass WIKIPEDIA von der UNESCO als erstes digitales
Weltkulturerbe anerkannt wird. Unterzeichnen Sie die Online-Petition:*
Wikimedia Deutschland - Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e.V.
Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts Berlin-Charlottenburg unter
der Nummer 23855 B. Als gemeinnützig anerkannt durch das Finanzamt für
Körperschaften I Berlin, Steuernummer 27/681/51985.