Dear all,
I am writing to you to let you know the voting period for the Universal
Code of Conduct Coordinating Committee (U4C) is open now through May 9,
2024. Read the information on the voting page on Meta [1] to learn more
about voting and voter eligibility.
The Universal Code of Conduct Coordinating Committee (U4C) is a global
group dedicated to providing an equitable and consistent implementation of
the UCoC. Community members were invited to submit their applications for
the U4C. For more information and the responsibilities of the U4C, please
review the U4C Charter [2]
Please share this message with members of your community so they can
participate as well.
1.
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Universal_Code_of_Conduc…
2.
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Universal_Code_of_Conduc…
On behalf of the UCoC project team,
Keegan
--
Keegan Peterzell (he/him)
Lead Committee Support Specialist
Committee Support
Wikimedia Foundation
Hello,
Persian Wikipedia (fa.wikipedia.org) which recently celebrated its 20th
birthday just passed its 1,000,000 article milestone.
Many volunteers have built, contributed, protected and loved this wiki for
the past two decades and here's to many more decades to come.
It has been a bumpy road but providing a free source of information to more
than 130M Persian language speakers has always been a pleasure, especially
when the concepts of fact and truth are under threat like never before.
Persian Wikipedia is being viewed by around 30M people monthly and has had
350M page views every month while only ~1,500 active editors [1] and ~35
admins have been keeping it alive and protecting it from all types of harm.
[1] Users making more than five edits in the past 30 days
https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/fa.wikipedia.org/contributing/active-editors/…
Here is to volunteers of Persian Wikipedia
--
Amir (he/him)
Hi everyone,
I'm Ziski from the Wikimedia Foundation's Global Advocacy team. I’m writing
with an update about how the Foundation and a group of Wikimedia affiliates
have engaged with the Global Digital Compact
<https://www.un.org/techenvoy/global-digital-compact>, which is an effort
of UN Member States to develop a shared set of principles that aim to
support an “open, free, and secure digital future for all.”
The Global Digital Compact is similar to the UN’s Sustainable Development
Goals <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_Development_Goals> in that
it will become the blueprint for how UN Member States shape their internet
policies and develop regulation at the country level. Those policies and
regulations will impact Wikimedia projects and will define what the
internet will look like for decades to come.
That's why today, twelve affiliates and the Foundation published an open
letter
<https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2024/04/23/open-letter-protect-wikiped…>
advocating
for UN Member States to include three critical points in the Compact. We
believe that the inclusion of these commitments will help protect
community-governed, public interest projects like the Wikimedia projects
into the future, both at an international as well as a national level. The
open letter builds on efforts over the past two years from affiliates and
the Foundation to help shape
<https://diff.wikimedia.org/2023/07/17/contributing-to-build-an-open-free-an…>
the Compact. The three principles we emphasize in the letter are:
-
Protect and empower communities to govern online public interest
projects.
-
Promote and protect digital public goods by supporting a robust digital
commons from which everyone, everywhere can benefit.
-
Build and deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)
to support and empower, not replace, people who create content and make
decisions in the public interest.
Read more about the full scope of these commitments and sign the open
letter here
<https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2024/04/23/open-letter-protect-wikiped…>
. For more information about the Global Digital Compact and its potential
impact on Wikimedia, take a look at our Diff post
<https://diff.wikimedia.org/2024/04/23/wikimedians-have-some-advice-for-the-…>.
You can also ask questions, leave comments, or get involved in our efforts
to shape the Compact on the collaboration page on Meta
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Global_Digital_Compact_Wikimedia_Advocacy_C…>
.
Kind regards,
Ziski *on behalf of* *WMF, Wikimedia Georgia, Wikimedia User Group
Nigeria, Wikimedia Ghana User Group, Wikimedia Chile, Wikimedians of the
Caribbean User Group, Wiki Movimento Brasil, Wikimedia Australia, Wikimedia
UK, Wikimedia Europe, Wikimedia Deutschland, Wikimedia Czech Republic,
and Wikimedia Sverige.*
Franziska Putz (she/her)
Senior Movement Advocacy Manager
Global Advocacy, Wikimedia Foundation
Fputz(a)wikimedia.org
UTC Timezone
Fellow Wikimedians,
I hope this meets you well.
After a quiet period since the 2022 launch of AfroCreatives WikiProject
(ACWP), The Africa Narrative (TAN) is gearing up for a busy 2024 with the
roll-out of a series of initiatives as well as a robust buildout of the
ACWP activities. First up on the calendar of 2024 Edit-a-thons
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/AfroCreatives_WikiProject/Afro_Creatives_Wi…>
is a pan-African campaign in partnership with The Panafrican Film and
Television Festival of Ouagadougou
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panafrican_Film_and_Television_Festival_of_Ou…>
(French: Festival panafricain du cinéma et de la télévision de Ouagadougou,
FESPACO), the continent’s largest film festival, and the African Federation
of Film Critics
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Federation_of_Film_Critics> (AFFC,
French: Fédération africaine de la critique cinématographique, FACC), a
panafricanist federation of African and diaspora film critics.
These partnerships are aimed at mobilizing African film and television
industry stakeholders to learn how the Wikimedia space works and how they
can help bridge the content gap that exists on the digital space about
African film and television through Wikimedia projects. Industry
stakeholders include the gamut of creatives and professionals—actors,
screenwriters,cinematographers,directors,producers, executives, film
critics, among many others—who can bring their industry knowledge to
improving Wikipedia articles.
In addition, given the vital role of images in enhancing Wikipedia, ACWP+
*film*
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/AfroCreatives_WikiProject/Afro_Creatives_Wi…>
is
launching a special effort timed to the FESPACO edit-a-thon to encourage
industry figures to contribute images such as posters, film stills,
behind-the-scenes, film festivals, awards, etc) to Wikimedia Commons. An
early test effort made to some award-winning African filmmakers in 2022
reflected strong support and ACWP expects the launch of this concerted
effort to bring notable additions to African film and television imagery.
All these contributions helpfully complement the work of the African
Wikimedia communities who are contributing in the same or adjoining space.
One of the ideas birthed in 2022 on the heels of the first ACWP+*film*
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/AfroCreatives_WikiProject/Afro_Creatives_Wi…>
campaign, was the creation of African film and television portals,
thoughtfully curated and tailored for English
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:African_cinema>, French
<https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portail:Film_et_T%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision_Africains>
and Arabic
<https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9:%D8%A7%D9%84%D…>
Wikipedia.
The goals are broadly two-fold:
1. To generate greater visibility and awareness for African film and
television among a global audience as well as further engagement on
Wikipedia, and
2. To generate further enthusiasm, pride, and ultimately, more
engagement among the African community contributors in the area of African
film.
The Content on these portals is manually curated twice a month.
The Portals were launched on the *18th of April 2024*, with manually
curated content posted every two weeks.
The 2024 ACWP+*film*
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/AfroCreatives_WikiProject/Afro_Creatives_Wi…>
campaign will officially launch on *18th May 2024* and run through *1st
June 2024*. However, the series of film specific training sessions on
Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons will start on *3rd May*.
In addition to general editing guidelines, the training modules include
film-and-television specific insights on how to document film on Wikipedia
with important elements that are frequently lacking. These include film and
television specific infoboxes, filmography tables, linking to external film
databases, how to document film subjects on Wikidata, among others.
All of this points to what we expect to be an immensely productive and
rewarding campaign. So, sit back, relax, and look out for the
communications about the campaign launch in due time!
Regards,
Ceslause Ogbonnaya
*Wikimedian-In-Residence, AfroCreatives WikiProject*
Cher.e.s wikimédien.ne.s,
J'espère que tout va bien.
Après une période calme depuis le lancement en 2022 d'AfroCreatives
WikiProject <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/AfroCreatives_WikiProject/fr>
(ACWP), The Africa Narrative (TAN) se prépare pour une année 2024 chargée
avec le déploiement d'une série d'initiatives ainsi qu'un renforcement
robuste des activités de l'ACWP. Premier au calendrier des Edit-a-thons 2024
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=AfroCreatives_WikiProject/Afro…>,
une campagne panafricaine en partenariat avec Festival panafricain du
cinéma et de la télévision de Ouagadougou
<https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_panafricain_du_cin%C3%A9ma_et_de_la_…>
(FESPACO),
le plus grand film du continent, et Fédération africaine de la critique
cinématographique
<https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_africaine_de_la_critique…>
(FACC), une fédération panafricaniste de critiques de cinéma africains et
de la diaspora.
Ces partenariats visent à mobiliser les parties prenantes de l'industrie
africaine du cinéma et de la télévision pour qu'elles apprennent comment
fonctionne l'espace Wikimédia et comment elles peuvent contribuer à combler
le déficit de contenu qui existe dans l'espace numérique sur le cinéma et
la télévision africains à travers des projets Wikimédia. Les parties
prenantes de l’industrie comprennent toute une gamme de créatifs et de
professionnels – acteurs, scénaristes, directeurs de la photographie,
réalisateurs, producteurs, cinéastes, critiques de cinéma, entre autres –
qui peuvent mettre leurs connaissances de l’industrie au service de
l’amélioration des articles Wikipédia.
De plus, compte tenu du rôle vital des images dans l'amélioration de
Wikipédia, ACWP*+film*
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=AfroCreatives_WikiProject/Afro…>
lance un effort spécial en marge de l'édition-thon du FESPACO
<https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_panafricain_du_cin%C3%A9ma_et_de_la_…>
pour encourager les personnalités de l'industrie à contribuer des images
telles que des affiches, des photos de films, des coulisses, festivals de
films, récompenses, etc.) à Wikimedia Commons.
Un premier effort de test réalisé auprès de certains cinéastes africains
primés en 2022 a reflété un fort soutien et l'ACWP
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/AfroCreatives_WikiProject/fr> espère que
le lancement de cet effort concerté apportera des ajouts notables à
l'imagerie cinématographique et télévisuelle africaine.
Toutes ces contributions complètent utilement le travail des communautés
Wikimédia africaines qui contribuent dans le même espace ou dans un espace
adjacent.
L'une des idées nées en 2022 dans la foulée de la première campagne ACWP+
*film*
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=AfroCreatives_WikiProject/Afro…>
était la création de portails de films et de télévision africains,
soigneusement organisés et adaptés pour Wikipédia en anglais
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:African_cinema>, français
<https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portail:Film_et_T%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision_Africains>
et arabe
<https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9:%D8%A7%D9%84%D…>
.
Les objectifs sont globalement doubles :
1. Générer une plus grande visibilité et une plus grande notoriété pour
le film et la télévision africains auprès d'un public mondial ainsi qu'un
engagement accru sur Wikipédia, et
2. Générer davantage d'enthousiasme, de fierté et ultimement, plus
d'engagement parmi les contributeurs de la communauté africaine dans le
domaine du cinéma africain.
Le contenu de ces portails est organisé manuellement deux fois par mois.
Les portails ont été lancés *le 18 avril 2024*, avec du contenu sélectionné
manuellement et publié toutes les deux semaines.
La campagne ACWP+*film*
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=AfroCreatives_WikiProject/Afro…>
2024 sera officiellement lancée *le 18 mai 2024* et se poursuivra jusqu'au *1er
juin 2024*. Cependant, la série de sessions de formation spécifiques au
cinéma sur Wikipédia, Wikidata et Wikimedia Commons débutera *le 3 mai*.
En plus des directives générales d'édition, les modules de formation
incluent des informations spécifiques au film et à la télévision sur la
façon de documenter un film sur Wikipédia avec des éléments importants qui
font souvent défaut. Ceux-ci incluent des infobox spécifiques au film et à
la télévision, des tableaux de filmographie, des liens vers des bases de
données externes de films, comment documenter les sujets de films sur
Wikidata, etc.
Tout cela témoigne de ce que nous espérons être une campagne extrêmement
productive et enrichissante. Alors asseyez-vous, détendez-vous et
surveillez les communications sur le lancement de la campagne en temps
voulu!
Cordialement,
Ceslause Ogbonnaya
*Wikimedien-en-residence, AfroCreatives WikiProject*
Dear all,
Some years ago, when we started the Education Program at the Basque Wikipedia, we used a lot the Book Creator (or Collections) extension. It allowed to bind some articles and download them in PDF or DOC/ODT formats for further editing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Book). This was a great feature, as it allowed us to send the teachers and students a collection of articles they had created. The teacher could create free learning materials from the articles created by their students, and download them in DOC/ODT format allowed to edit them, rearrange and add other materials. Some teachers said us that they have created learning materials using Wikipedia articles created by their students.
Anyway, in 2017 the Wikimedia Foundation decided to break the book creator, because there were some errors in the PDF creator. So they disabled the book creator and added a note saying that the system is "Undergoing changes". The message is still visible, but no changes are being done. (You can follow the last messages of redesigning the book creator here:https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T175681).
I know that this is not the most important feature that is broken. There are many other broken things. But creating materials for students, and being able to read them offline or edited by teachers is a feature that aligns with our mission and vision. As always happens, no one is accountable for having something broke for six years. And it doesn't seem that this feature will return in the future. At least, the PediaPress link is still working, but there you can't edit your book, only pay for have it printed.
I think no one knows what will happen with this feature. I write this message simply to say that I miss it a lot.
Thanks
Galder Gonzalez
>
> Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:22:11 -0700
> From: Brooke Vibber <bvibber(a)wikimedia.org>
> Subject: [Wikimedia-l] Re: We need more interactive content: we are
> doing it wrong
>
> Note that a third-party web service is not ideal; in addition to the issues
> of tracking and privacy, it can't work offline and likely would require
> additional work to get the graphics working on mobile web, mobile apps, and
> offline (kiwix etc). Integrating fully with a self-contained service that
> is supported by our whole ecosystem and maintained in the future would be
> desirable in the work I'd like to make sure we do on multimedia.
>
> -- brooke
>
> There are basically two strategies to allow embedding of Our World in Data
graphs into wiki pages, with different strengths and weaknesses.
We started with a mirror/extract of OWID hosted on WMF cloud services,
which I set up starting over a year ago. The strength of this approach is
that it does not send tracking or privacy information to any third party.
We had hoped WMF might adopt this mirror and make it an internal site.
Translation also is easier because we control the source of the graphs. The
workflow is also quite easy as each page has a button to copy the text
required to embed the graph so that it can be pasted into the page editor.
The weakness is that extraction from OWID must be done periodically and is
vulnerable to changes in code on their end, such as their rewrite to
include the Explorer versions of graphs.
We have now taken a second approach, which is to allow a user to decide if
they are willing to visit a third party site via a popup asking for consent
and then show the graph directly from OWID. It is phenomenal that both EU
and ES Wikipedias have now implemented this strategy. The strength is that
since OWID have developed their code to support embedding, the popup that
shows the graph is quite manageable. The weakness is that we must rely on
OWID themselves for translation of graphs and any questions of
accessibility, though they are at the very least quite mobile capable as
James Heilman said.
Of course the popup strategy could easily be pointed at the mirror, which
would give us the ability to handle the translation. This is more a policy
question than a technical one.
In terms of offline use, such as Kiwix, we planned for that with tags that
tell Kiwix to use the static image instead of the interactive graph. Screen
readers could also be directed to the static image as they will have
difficulty managing the interactive parts of the graph.
Tim Moody
Hello everyone,
The third edition of the Language & Internationalization newsletter (April
2024) is available at this link: <
https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Language_engineering/Newsletter/20…
>.
This newsletter is compiled by the Wikimedia Language team. It provides
updates from January–March 2024 quarter on new feature development,
improvements in various language-related technical projects and support
efforts, details about community meetings, and contributions ideas to get
involved in projects.
To stay updated, you can subscribe to the newsletter on its wiki page. If
you have any feedback or ideas for topics to feature in the newsletter,
please share them on the discussion page, accessible here: <
https://www.mediawiki.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Wikimedia_Language_enginee…
>.
Cheers,
Srishti
On behalf of the WMF Language team
*Srishti Sethi*
Senior Developer Advocate
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
