I find the slide https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:July_2017_Monthly_Metrics_Meeting.pdf&page=22 about whether or not people feel we are "free of advertising" interesting as we only got a 7.3 (with lower scores among younger readers).
We unfortunately are not free of advertising. There is a large and appears to be growing industry that sells Wikipedia articles / ads, which are mostly created through large groups of sock accounts. They also are involved with adding SEO links.
We are struggling to get a handle on this at the COI notice board https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Conflict_of_interest/Noticeboard, which has seen over the last couple of days the listing of more than a hundred additional articles of concern, at SPI, and at WikiProject Spam.
Would be useful to analysis just how significant this issue is, such as what proportion of articles at NPP appear paid for? And what percentage of socks / sock cases relate to paid editing?
James
On Tue, Aug 1, 2017 at 7:33 PM, Katherine Maher kmaher@wikimedia.org wrote:
Hi all —
Wikimania is coming, but before we get to Montreal, we are publishing many more insights, reports, guides, and research from our work during cycle 3. There's lots of good stuff and interesting insights (did you know Spain is consistently one of the countries with the highest awareness about our projects and community?), and I encourage you to take a look. Here are a few new updates:
*New voices synthesis report.*[1] Are you looking to better understand New Voices projects? Start with this overview report — it summarizes our work across many teams: insights from research, a summary of 58 expert interviews, expert convenings hosted by the Foundation and affiliates, design research findings, briefings on major trends that will impact the community like misinformation and emerging platforms, further reading, and (of course!) references.
*July Wikimedia Foundation metrics meeting.*[2] During our July 27 meeting, we reviewed new research on brand insights about why people do (and do not) read Wikipedia, research that focuses on high-awareness countries as part of New Voices initiatives.
*Strategic direction committee update.*[3] We are working to consider what we have heard from the community and learned from research to identify what we want to achieve as a movement by 2030. We will share our first draft of the strategic direction with all of you in advance of Wikimania. We’re looking forward to your thoughts on the talk page!
*Wikimania movement strategy and events.*[4] Speaking of Wikimania, the Foundation is preparing 6 sessions related to the strategy process in the official program. We will also offer you a physical location for engaging with the strategic direction: the Movement Strategy Space, open from Thursday through Sunday. The Space will host different working sessions, discussions, and the chance to re-energize for the coming weeks and months (we have some special things in store!). The conference organizers are also preparing a remote attendee plan with live video and content for the conference overall, so you will be able to participate if you’re not able to come to Montreal. Please note that online registration ended July 31; after that you can register on-site starting August 8.[5]
ভালো থাকবেন। (Bengali translation: “Stay well”)
Katherine
PS. A version of this message is available for translation on Meta-Wiki.[6]
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_ movement/2017/Sources/New_Voices_Synthesis_report_(July_2017) [2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_ metrics_and_activities_meetings [3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_ movement/2017/People/Drafting_Group [4] https://wikimania2017.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_2030 [5] https://wikimania2017.wikimedia.org/wiki/Registration [6] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_ movement/2017/Updates/23_June_2017_-_Update_19_on_Wikimedia_ movement_strategy_process
-- Katherine Maher
Wikimedia Foundation 149 New Montgomery Street San Francisco, CA 94105
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