TL;DR: Launch of Wikimedia Affiliates Data Portal
We are launching a new form-based annual reporting system for Wikimedia
affiliates [1], as well as a basic Affiliates data query system. We would
love your feedback.
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Hello, Affiliate Leaders & Community Members,
Tired of the affiliate reports [2] wiki table of death? SO are we!
The Learning & Evaluation team is pleased to announce the launch of the
Wikimedia Affiliates Data (WAD) Portal [1]. This portal will serve three
purposes as follows:
1. It introduces a new Object-Oriented User Interface (OOUI) [3]
form-based report submission interface for annual activity and financial
reports. This replaces the wiki mark-up based submission via the
[[Reports]] page on meta.
2. It introduces the ability for Organizations to update their
information using OOUI forms on the fly.
3. It introduces a new simple data query form that allows anyone
logged-in to their public wiki accounts to run a query and view results on
available Affiliates data. The query tool will be improved in the coming
financial year, as we work to code data in Affiliate reports into
structured data, to allow for richer analysis.
The [[Reports]] page on meta will continue to be visible on meta until the
end of June 2020, after which it will be protected and archived. All
organizations that are due to submit annual reports at the end of March are
encouraged to use the new report submission forms. If you do use the new
forms, please share any feedback you have about this new process on the
Portal’s talk page
We will hold training seminars for those who wish to be onboarded to the
submission forms and the Query system during the months of March and April
2020 (Dates will be communicated soon).
We have taken time to pre-populate the system with basic information about
each recognized Wikimedia affiliate, however, should you find any incorrect
or outdated information about your group, please use the organization
information page[4] to provide updated information.
We trust that you will enjoy the new portal and that you will find it
useful. Should you have any problems or encounter bugs in the new forms,
please use the Portal talk page [5] to log these, or to simply ask
questions. We will collect similar questions to create an FAQ page in due
time.
Kindest regards
*Dumisani Ndubane* - Lead Designer
*Derick Alangi* - Software Developer
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*Learning & Evaluation team*
Wikimedia Foundation
*Links:*
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Affiliates_Data_Portal
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Reports
[3] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/OOUI
[4]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Affiliates_Data_Portal/Organizati…
[5] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Affiliates_Data_Portal
Hi!
I read about the beautiful COVID-19 Wikiproject here on wikimedia-l, and
through Twitter, about the Italian, German en English Wikipedia giving the
relevant articles on COVID-19 their own box on the front page, to inform
readers looking for information.
We discussed this
<https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:De_kroeg#Corona_wat_prominenter_op_…>
on the Dutch language Wikipedia and concluded that our community is to
small and not knowledgable enough, to act as health information portal. We
have governmental institutes in place where people are being directed if
they want to know what to do and what not. These websites will always be
more up to date, and also there is no (large-scaled) mistrust in the
measures that are now being taken.
Therefore, the community decided to take a different approach: through our
featured article section on the main page
<https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoofdpagina>, we now highlight articles to
put the COVID-19 in a broader perspective.
Today's FA is on Alexander Fleming (Nobel prize winner for his discovery of
penicillin), the upcoming days for instance will be about the Spanish flu
(the influenza epidemic that hit Europe just after WW1) and about
Decamerone (for some reading inspiration).
Maybe a thought for other small communities, that wrestle with the same
topic.
Vriendelijke groet,
Ciell
Dear list,
Given the unfolding global events, the Wikimedia Foundations feels it is
important to reassure readers across the globe.
We'll be displaying a short message at the top of the projects reaffirming
our commitment to keep Wikipedia and the Wikimedia projects online, open
and free for all. Readers often turn to Wikipedia for neutral information
in times of stress. This is a critical moment for students who can't go to
school, people who have to stay home with their families, and anyone who
needs a trusted source of unbiased information.
We also want to take a moment to acknowledge the invaluable work of all the
medical contributors on Wikipedia. Thank you for keeping a close watch and
keeping misinformation at bay. Coronavirus topics have received tens of
thousands of edits by thousands of editors since the start of the pandemic.
The article has been read more than 30 million times, in English alone.
The message will be displayed just once to readers, and you can preview the
banner [1]. The draft is in English but we want this message to be
multilingual. If you have a moment, please help translate this banner into
your language [2]. Thank you all, for your work and efforts.
Stay safe, and wash your hands!
--
Seddon
[1] - Banner Preview:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA?banner=programmatic_mlWW_rsp_covid19&for…
[2] - Translate link:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Translate&group=Centra…
Dear everyone,
As a part of the Wikimedia movement’s ongoing response to the COVID-19
pandemic, we are postponing Wikimania Bangkok 2020. This decision was made
with the full support of the ESEAP host team and Wikimania Committee.
Together, we will hold Wikimania in Bangkok in 2021.
We are filled with sadness to not see you all in Bangkok in August.
However, we are confident that this is the best possible decision for the
well-being of our global community and public health overall. This decision
was proposed by the ESEAP organizers in line with their countries’ response
to the COVID-19 pandemic and is in line with recommendations from the World
Health Organization (WHO).
You are certain to have many questions. We hope to answer some of your
questions below. We will continue to answer questions on the Wikimania
Meta-Wiki page and on the Wikimania Telegram group chat (more information
below).
*== What does “postponing” Wikimania mean? ==*
We will not host an in-person Wikimania in 2020. We are rescheduling
Wikimania Bangkok until 2021. The ESEAP organizing team[2] will continue
their work as a regional collaborative between affiliates in the East,
South East, and Pacific regions to host us in Thailand next year.
The hotel and venue[3] in Bangkok will remain the same. We have not yet
finalized dates for 2021. We will work with the ESEAP team and Wikimania
Steering Committee to confirm new dates. We will let you know these dates
by the end of 2020.
The good news is that Wikimania 2021 will coincide with Wikipedia’s 20th
birthday year. We expect this to be a truly memorable Wikimania -- an
opportunity to celebrate reconnection after a year apart, along with the
remarkable accomplishment of two decades of free knowledge.
*== Will there be an alternative to the in-person event? ==*
There are no plans by the 2020 Wikimania hosts to organize a virtual,
online event. Hosting Wikimania is a lot of work. The ESEAP team is
committed to hosting the best possible in-person event in Bangkok in 2021.
Therefore, they will not have the capacity to organize a virtual Wikimania
this year.
However, the Wikimania committee, the ESEAP host team, and the Wikimedia
Foundation all recognize that other members of the community may be
interested in organizing a remote, global Wikimedia event for 2020.
Although the Wikimedia Foundation does not have the capacity at this time
to lead the organizing of a virtual online conference, we recognize others
may have the desire to do so.
We welcome discussion about online events. Interested parties are welcome
to contact the Wikimania Steering Committee and Wikimania Foundation staff
for advice on the Wikimania Meta-Wiki page[1].
We are also considering proposals for improving the capacity of communities
to organize local virtual convenings, and for how we can support
communities in organizing impromptu local and regional Wikimedia events
once the pandemic passes. As the situation has been changing rapidly we are
still working on specifics and will share more information in the coming
weeks.
*== What does this mean for scholarship applications? ==*
We are working on a plan for how to process Wikimania 2020 scholarship
applications.[4] We will share more information in the coming weeks.
*== How was this decision made? ==*
This recommendation was made by the ESEAP organizers based on what we know
about the current COVID-19 global health pandemic and current WHO
guidelines. The decision was made together with the ESEAP team in
consultation with the Wikimania Steering Committee and Wikimedia
Foundation. Together we are fully and unanimously aligned around this
decision.
Although we are genuinely sad to not have the opportunity to see you all
this year, we also are fully supportive of this decision in all of our best
interests. It allows our ESEAP community hosts to focus on the immediate
needs of their families, local Wikimedia communities, and local communities
as a whole. It is in line with global public health guidance and aligns the
Wikimedia movement as a responsible actor in support of our common public
good.
We want to thank all volunteers and affiliates that have been involved with
planning Wikimania. We’re especially appreciative of the ESEAP for their
leadership, flexibility, and compassion, as we have worked together to make
some difficult decisions on this important event.
*== Where can I learn more about Wikimania 2021? ==*
There are a number of channels where Wikimania is regularly discussed and
where plans for 2021 will be posted as they develop. We welcome all
interested participants to bring together our collective wisdom and
creativity to discuss what happens next with Wikimania. You can find these
channels here:
- Wikimania wiki: https://wikimania.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania
- Wikimania mailing list:
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
- Freenode IRC channel: #wikimania
- Telegram group chat: https://t.me/wikimaniachat
*== Where can I learn more about COVID-19 and Wikimedia? ==*
We know the Wikimedia community as generous and altruistic. Unsurprisingly,
many volunteers have started applying their skills and attention to this
current global pandemic. The Foundation created a page on Meta-Wiki where
we can share and document the steps the Foundation and movement members are
taking and ways to participate. We invite you to join us in documenting
more about our collective response: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/COVID-19
*== Thank you ==*Our world, and many of our lives, have changed rapidly
over these past few weeks. Yet we can look to history to take comfort that
crises are also often moments when people put aside differences, prioritize
community and care, and find ways to connect. The sense of community and
purpose within the Wikimedia movement is a powerful rejoinder to these
uncertain times.
This is a moment in which not only what we do, but how we do it, will make
a meaningful impact on the world. We are so grateful for all that you do as
a movement to continue to rise to the challenges of our moment.
Please, stay safe and take care.
Katherine, on behalf of the:
- ESEAP Core Organizing Team
- Wikimania Steering Committee
- Wikimedia Foundation Events Team
P.S. You can help translate and share this message via Meta-Wiki: <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_2020>
You can also find additional information about Wikimedia's other actions
regarding COVID-19 on Meta-Wiki: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/COVID-19
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_2020
[2] https://wikimania.wikimedia.org/wiki/2020:Organizers
[3] https://wikimania.wikimedia.org/wiki/2020:Venue
[4] https://wikimania.wikimedia.org/wiki/Scholarship_Committee
--
Katherine Maher (she/her)
Executive Director
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
Juhar everyone,
Sorry for crossposting. We are here with the education office hours for the
month of March. Know more here:
https://discuss-space.wmflabs.org/t/wikimedia-education-office-hours/3263
Join us on 19th March 2020 at 12:00 PM UTC.
The agenda for March Office Hours are:
-Reading Wikipedia pages are now on Outreach, know more about the research
-Wikimedia Education evaluation recommendations
-Highlight series by the education team
-Please add other topics you want to discuss during the event:
Looking forward to seeing you all then, Please let me know if you have any
questions.
Do you want to reach out to the education team for a 1:1 consultation?
Request for a slot for Education Office Space (
ttps://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/Education/About/Office_Space
<https://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/Education/About/Office_Space> ) by
filling this google form ( http://bit.ly/EduOfficeSpace )
Dhanyabaad!
--
*Sailesh Patnaik*
Program Coordinator, Education
Hi all,
The next Research Showcase will be live-streamed on Wednesday, March 18, at
9:30 AM PDT/16:30 UTC. We’ll have a presentation on topic modeling by
Jordan Boyd-Graber. A question-and-answer session will follow.
YouTube stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiD9QTHNVVM
As usual, you can join the conversation on IRC at #wikimedia-research. You
can also watch our past research showcases here:
https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Research/Showcase
This month's presentation:
Big Data Analysis with Topic Models: Evaluation, Interaction, and
Multilingual Extensions
By: Jordan Boyd-Graber, University of Maryland
A common information need is to understand large, unstructured datasets:
millions of e-mails during e-discovery, a decade worth of science
correspondence, or a day's tweets. In the last decade, topic models have
become a common tool for navigating such datasets even across languages.
This talk investigates the foundational research that allows successful
tools for these data exploration tasks: how to know when you have an
effective model of the dataset; how to correct bad models; how to measure
topic model effectiveness; and how to detect framing and spin using these
techniques. After introducing topic models, I argue why traditional
measures of topic model quality---borrowed from machine learning---are
inconsistent with how topic models are actually used. In response, I
describe interactive topic modeling, a technique that enables users to
impart their insights and preferences to models in a principled,
interactive way. I will then address measuring topic model effectiveness in
real-world tasks.
Overview of topic models:
https://mimno.infosci.cornell.edu/papers/2017_fntir_tm_applications.pdf
Topic model evaluation: http://umiacs.umd.edu/~jbg//docs/nips2009-rtl.pdf
Interactive topic modeling:
http://umiacs.umd.edu/~jbg//docs/2014_mlj_itm.pdf
Topic Models for Categorization:
http://users.umiacs.umd.edu/~jbg//docs/2016_acl_doclabel.pdf
--
Janna Layton (she, her)
Administrative Assistant - Product & Technology
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
Hello,
I'd like to suggest a few places where people can do cross-project and
multilingual coordination for Covoid-19 related topics.
* The Wikimedia Medicine mailing list:
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-medicine
* On Meta: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/COVID-19. This page appears
to be a work in progress that was started by WMF. Both the "main page"
and the talk page could be useful there, and people can set up
subpages.
* There may also be some discussions on Commons on Wikidata which will
affect multiple projects, such as for maps.
Some people may have additional suggestions.
Ever onward,
Pine
( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pine )
Hello,
A few Wikipedians on English Wikipedia have decided to start a WikiProject
on COVID-19 on English Wikipedia to work more systematically and
collaboratively on the subject. The WikiProject is started by
[[User:Another Believer]] on 15 March, and very quickly got ~20
participants and several discussions started on the talk page.
Please have a look at WikiProject:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_COVID-19
Questions or comments or suggestions at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Noticeboard_for_India-related_…
Thanks
Tito Dutta
[[User:Titodutta]]
The Wiki Loves Africa photographic contest is currently running, for the
6th year, under the theme "Africa on the Move"
It should be made clear that the goal of the contest is not limited to
collecting freely licenced images to illustrate wikipedia articles
(though of course, there is also that...). It is also the opportunity to
recruit and train new contributors. It is also the opportunity to
promote the wikimedia projects in countries where the awareness can
still benefit from improvements. It is also the opportunity for tiny new
groups to join the larger community and increase their knowledge of our
mouvement.
Naturally... this implies that a large part of the photo contest
operations usually take place in offline (face-to-face) events
(edit-a-thons, photo walks, upload sessions etc.). Which obviously is
currently a problem...
So... we have just announced some modifications to the contest rules and
operations.
This is due to the global health crisis with all Wikimedia related
events being cancelled.
And this is due to a context... with rather few cases in most African
countries, the population in Africa is currently not following the
recent recommandations to practice social distanciation or even to stay
at home.
First note that all offline activities are being cancelled as expected.
Second, winners ceremonies will be either cancelled (and gifts sent by
postal mail to winners) or will be delayed till... later (we recommand
to maintain the ceremonies and host them after the crisis is over)
The entry deadline for Wiki Loves Africa has been extended to *15th
APRIL 2020* to accomodate the following changes :
We suggest people to upload already existing, archived, images that are
sitting on their hard drives at home.
We will also be hosting some ONLINE events and activities to ensure that
participants and teams are all supported and can still enter. Bear with
us... this will be an experiment ;)
We also decided to urge people to stay at home using the hashtags
#StayAtHome <https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/stayathome?epa=HASHTAG>
and #RestezChezVous and hope that this will help local teams further
spread this message locally for the sake of all.
We have created a bunch of visuals to improve communication in those
directions, which will be used in the next few days.
Links
* https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Wiki_Loves_Africa_2020
* https://www.facebook.com/wikilovesafrica/
* https://twitter.com/wikilovesafrica
The team
The Wiki Loves Africa photographic contest is currently running, for the
6th year, under the theme "Africa on the Move"
It should be made clear that the goal of the contest is not limited to
collecting freely licenced images to illustrate wikipedia articles
(though of course, there is also that...). It is also the opportunity to
recruit and train new contributors. It is also the opportunity to
promote the wikimedia projects in countries where the awareness can
still benefit from improvements. It is also the opportunity for tiny new
groups to join the larger community and increase their knowledge of our
mouvement.
Naturally... this implies that a large part of the photo contest
operations usually take place in offline (face-to-face) events
(edit-a-thons, photo walks, upload sessions etc.). Which obviously is
currently a problem...
So... we have just announced some modifications to the contest rules and
operations.
This is due to the global health crisis with all Wikimedia related
events being cancelled.
And this is due to a context... with rather few cases in most African
countries, the population in Africa is currently not following the
recent recommandations to practice social distanciation or even to stay
at home.
First note that all offline activities are being cancelled as expected.
Second, winners ceremonies will be either cancelled (and gifts sent by
postal mail to winners) or will be delayed till... later (we recommand
to maintain the ceremonies and host them after the crisis is over)
The entry deadline for Wiki Loves Africa has been extended to *15th
APRIL 2020* to accomodate the following changes :
We suggest people to upload already existing, archived, images that are
sitting on their hard drives at home.
We will also be hosting some ONLINE events and activities to ensure that
participants and teams are all supported and can still enter. Bear with
us... this will be an experiment ;)
We also decided to urge people to stay at home using the hashtags
#StayAtHome <https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/stayathome?epa=HASHTAG>
and #RestezChezVous and hope that this will help local teams further
spread this message locally for the sake of all.
We have created a bunch of visuals to improve communication in those
directions, which will be used in the next few days.
Links
* https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Wiki_Loves_Africa_2020
* https://www.facebook.com/wikilovesafrica/
* https://twitter.com/wikilovesafrica
The team