I think it's a fine idea. I know that nobody knows what "Wikimedia means",
and see value to moving at least the Foundation's name towards a more
recognizable brand.
I also see valid points being raised from the community, such as the
distinction between Wikipedia and WikiBooks, -Versity, -Source, etc. Those
projects are often very different from Wikipedia, and further work should
be done to understand the impacts on brand perception if those very
different projects use a more similar name. But overall, I think the idea
is good.
What is bad is that this is another top-down change being apparently made
entirely by WMF staff. The question is "how should we implement this idea
that we have already come up with, and will implement anyway"? The question
should have been brought forward much earlier in the form of "how can we
improve our brand awareness". This idea could have been put forward and
refined as part of that collaborative process. Or at least that's how it
should have been done if the WMF cares about being a service organization.
I would say that it was pretty clear the change will
happen :)
No need to mock me based on my apparent position on the issue. And I
really
don't see how it is desirable that the Foundation is willing to push ideas
through without community support. Again, are they a top-down governance
organization, or a service organization aimed at supporting and empowering
the editing community and readership?
Adrian Raddatz
On Fri, Sep 6, 2019 at 5:05 PM Galder Gonzalez Larrañaga <
galder158(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
> I think a rebranding to Wikipedia is the best branding option but, at the
> same time, I aknowledge that this can cause a wide variety of problems to
> so many people inside our community that doing it without a plan to give
> safety (not only legal, as their lives could be compromised) is a bigger
> danger than the benefits it causes.
>
>
>
> 2019 ira. 6 10:41 PM erabiltzaileak hau idatzi du (Isaac Olatunde <
> reachout2isaac(a)gmail.com>)t;):
>
> We sometimes spend several minutes trying to explain to potentials partners
> the difference between Wikipedia and Wikimedia and the relationship between
> them.
>
> In most cases we just use "Wikipedia" so as to not confuse them.
>
> Of course some people would share an opposing view for many reasons but I
> do think this rebranding is important.
>
> Regards
>
> Isaac
>
> On Fri, Sep 6, 2019, 9:29 PM Strainu <strainu10(a)gmail.com wrote:
>
> > Pe vineri, 6 septembrie 2019, Adrian Raddatz <ajraddatz(a)gmail.com> a
> > scris:
> >
> > > Yet another potentially good idea from the Foundation killed by the
> usual
> > > atrocious style of stakeholder management. No benefits framed for the
> > > community,
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > > no indication that this change is coming from the bottom up,
> >
> >
> > Huh? Have you seriously never seen people asking the difference between
> > Wikipedia and Wikimedia or wiki(m|p) edians complaining about how hard it
> > is to explain that difference?
> >
> > This change is very much a bottom up one, even if it is pushed by the WMF
> > using corporate procedures rather than by the community using an RfC.
> >
> >
> >
> > > no
> > > assurance that this change happens or not based on the results of the
> > > consultation.
> >
> >
>
I would say that it was pretty clear the change will
happen :)
> >
> > Strainu
> >
> > >
> > > You can't figure out the benefits to the community - your key
> stakeholder
> > > group - entirely as part of the consultation. You need to frame the
> > > consultation as figuring out how to achieve pre-identified benefits to
> > your
> > > stakeholders in the optimal way. You should also try to get buy-in from
> > key
> > > community groups *before* you start consulting, and use them as part of
> > the
> > > consultation, so it stops being Foundation vs. the community and turns
> > into
> > > the Foundation collaboratively supporting community-led ideas.
> > >
> > > It pains me to see this being done poorly, time and time again.
> > >
> > > Adrian Raddatz
> > >
> > >
> > > On Fri, Sep 6, 2019 at 3:28 PM Paulo Santos Perneta <
> > > paulosperneta(a)gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > After the last disastrous WMF intervention in Wikipedia - Framgate -
> I
> > > > believe the timing is just perfect for the WMF to go forward with
> this
> > > fit
> > > > of creativity of branding themselves as the "Wikipedia
Foundation".
> > > >
> > > > It's one after another, and never stops.
> > > >
> > > > Best,
> > > > Paulo
> > > >
> > > > Yaroslav Blanter <ymbalt(a)gmail.com> escreveu no dia sexta,
6/09/2019
> > > à(s)
> > > > 18:25:
> > > >
> > > > > I agree with Fae. I strongly oppose the proposal, and I somehow
> used
> > to
> > > > > assume that our opinion would be asked in a structured way.
> > > > >
> > > > > Cheers
> > > > > Yaroslav
> > > > >
> > > > > On Fri, Sep 6, 2019 at 7:03 PM Fæ <faewik(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > If the WMF is going to make statements that are not derived
from
> > all
> > > > > > the demonstrable facts, perhaps the community should now
respond
> > with
> > > > > > a completely unambiguous RFC on meta so there can be no
doubt?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Something along the lines of:
> > > > > > "The WMF have employed Wolff Olins for rebranding
advice, and
> they
> > > > > > recommend that Wikimedia rebrands itself around the word
> > "Wikipedia"
> > > > > > and projects like Wikimedia Commons are renamed to
"Wikicommons"
> to
> > > > > > ensure marketing of the projects can easily be delivered by
the
> > WMF.
> > > > > > Do you support or oppose this rebranding programme?"
> > > > > >
> > > > > > With a straightforward RFC to keep on linking to in every
> > discussion
> > > > > > on every venue, we might then have tangible evidence of
whether
> > > "There
> > > > > > is considerable support for the branding proposal" or
"There is
> > > > > > considerable opposition for the branding proposal" is
factual.
> > Rather
> > > > > > than drifting along for months with the debate and
unhappiness
> that
> > > > > > comes from arguing both sides of a mostly political case
without
> > > > > > firmly verifiable evidence available or relying on complex
and
> less
> > > > > > credible stats from surveys that are likely to suffer from
> embedded
> > > > > > bias, especially considering the already banked investment
in
> > > > > > consultancy that drives the need to change something, to
prove
> the
> > > > > > spent money had impact and "value".
> > > > > >
> > > > > > P.S. Zack and others, it's best to avoid the word
"collaboration"
> > > when
> > > > > > communicating with an international group. It has
unfortunate
> > history
> > > > > > and gives the impression that you are quoting views from
> > > collaborators
> > > > > > rather than holding open collegial discussion.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > Fae
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On Fri, 6 Sep 2019 at 17:19, Diane Ranville <
> > > > dranville-ctr(a)wikimedia.org
> > > > > >
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Hi,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I agree with Pine.
> > > > > > > There is a majority of people who actually oppose the
> rebranding
> > > > > > > proposition.
> > > > > > > I don't quite understand why this is still going
forward
> (except
> > > that
> > > > > it
> > > > > > is
> > > > > > > difficult to acknowledge a mistake and take steps
backwards -
> but
> > > it
> > > > is
> > > > > > > sometimes necessary).
> > > > > > > Have other options even been considered?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > -speaking in my own name here-
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Diane
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On Fri, Sep 6, 2019 at 7:35 AM Pine W
<wiki.pine(a)gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Hello Zack,
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Thank you for the report on Meta.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I am troubled by your statement in this email that
"There is
> > > > > > considerable
> > > > > > > > support for the brand proposal and general
appetite to
> improve
> > > our
> > > > > > > > movement’s branding system." What that
statement appears to
> > omit
> > > is
> > > > > > that,
> > > > > > > > according to the report on Meta, there is also
considerable
> > > > > opposition
> > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > the rebranding proposal.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Can you explain why you characterized the proposal
as having
> > > > > > "considerable
> > > > > > > > support" without in the same sentence
acknowledging what
> > appears
> > > to
> > > > > be
> > > > > > > > considerable opposition?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Of the three top-level metrics that the report on
Meta
> displays
> > > > that
> > > > > > > > measure community and affiliate support or
opposition
> regarding
> > > the
> > > > > > > > rebranding proposal, one of the three metrics is
in favor and
> > two
> > > > of
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > three metrics are opposed. If this was an RfC, and
I was
> using
> > > > those
> > > > > > > > measures of sentiment to evaluate support and
opposition
> > > regarding
> > > > > the
> > > > > > RfC,
> > > > > > > > I would probably close the current rebranding
proposal as
> > > declined.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Pine
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > (
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pine )
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > On Thu, Sep 5, 2019, 20:49 Zack McCune <
> zmccune(a)wikimedia.org>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > *Summary* - We want your help with a
voluntary, OPT-IN
> design
> > > > > > process for
> > > > > > > > > movement branding. Please join the in-depth
discussion
> > group,
> > > or
> > > > > > watch
> > > > > > > > for
> > > > > > > > > updates on Meta-Wiki.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Hello all,
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > After 4 months of community consultation,
spanning dozens
> of
> > > > > > affiliates,
> > > > > > > > > several mailing lists, community conferences,
and
> Meta-Wiki,
> > I
> > > am
> > > > > > pleased
> > > > > > > > > to share a summary of feedback on the
proposed 2030
> movement
> > > > brand
> > > > > > > > strategy
> > > > > > > > > [1].
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > From more than 319 comments, representing 150
individual
> > > > > > contributors and
> > > > > > > > > 63 affiliates, we assessed 6 major themes in
feedback:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > 1.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Reducing confusion
> > > > > > > > > 2.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Protecting reputation
> > > > > > > > > 3.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Supporting sister projects
> > > > > > > > > 4.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Addressing (legal, governmental) risks
> > > > > > > > > 5.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Supporting movement growth
> > > > > > > > > 6.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > The process of change
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Please visit our feedback summary page to
learn more [2].
> You
> > > > will
> > > > > > see
> > > > > > > > > examples of comments within each section,
along with a
> rough
> > > > > > indication
> > > > > > > > of
> > > > > > > > > how many of the comments that we received
were related to
> > each
> > > > > theme.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > The comments sometimes contradict one
another, showing that
> > > > across
> > > > > > our
> > > > > > > > wide
> > > > > > > > > movement’s experience, different points of
view are common
> > > (and a
> > > > > > sign of
> > > > > > > > > health!). To visualize these tensions, we
have created
> > > “polarity
> > > > > > maps”
> > > > > > > > > which are used to help visualize how
different arguments
> > > coexist
> > > > in
> > > > > > > > tension
> > > > > > > > > with each other.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Ultimately, the comments provided from you
all are very
> > > > thoughtful
> > > > > > and
> > > > > > > > > useful guidance on what is needed to make our
movement’s
> > > branding
> > > > > > > > > successful. One can read the 6 themes above
as “criteria”
> for
> > > > > > assessing
> > > > > > > > > branding systems.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > == Thanks ==
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > I would like to thank the organizers of
Iberoconf,
> Wikipedia
> > > > > > Education
> > > > > > > > > Summit, and the Wikimedia Summit for inviting
us to hold
> > > > > discussions
> > > > > > > > during
> > > > > > > > > their sessions. I would also like to thank my
colleagues
> > Elena
> > > > > > Lappen,
> > > > > > > > > Samir Elsharbaty, and Blanca Flores who
conducted extensive
> > > parts
> > > > > of
> > > > > > this
> > > > > > > > > consultation. To the hundreds of people, and
dozens of
> > > affiliates
> > > > > > > > > commenting, thank you for reviewing the
proposal and
> offering
> > > > your
> > > > > > > > > perspectives and insights.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > == Next steps and staying involved ==
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > There is considerable support for the brand
proposal and
> > > general
> > > > > > appetite
> > > > > > > > > to improve our movement’s branding system.
Further, we
> > believe
> > > > that
> > > > > > > > > critical feedback on the proposal offers
direct guidance
> for
> > > > > > precisely
> > > > > > > > what
> > > > > > > > > branding must do to be successful for our
movement. We have
> > > > shared
> > > > > > these
> > > > > > > > > insights and our proposed continuance with
the Board of
> > > Trustees,
> > > > > who
> > > > > > > > > approved continuing these efforts.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Acting on community insights, we will be
collaborating on
> > > formal
> > > > > > brand
> > > > > > > > > naming, visual identity, and brand system
design that will
> > use
> > > > > > > > “Wikipedia”
> > > > > > > > > as the central reference point. The resulting
system will
> be
> > > > OPT-IN
> > > > > > for
> > > > > > > > > affiliates.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > This design process will be guided by a
“brand network” – a
> > > group
> > > > > of
> > > > > > > > > volunteers who would like to continue
advising on brand
> > during
> > > > this
> > > > > > > > > consultation. Dozens of people have already
volunteered,
> and
> > we
> > > > > > invite
> > > > > > > > you
> > > > > > > > > to join the group. We will use a group on
Wikimedia Space
> to
> > > host
> > > > > > this
> > > > > > > > > discussion and the group will be closed to
allow candid
> > > > discussions
> > > > > > and
> > > > > > > > > room for iterations. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO
JOIN [3]. If
> you
> > do
> > > > not
> > > > > > want
> > > > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > > commit to the in-depth, longer term
discussions that will
> be
> > > > > > happening
> > > > > > > > > within the brand network group, we will still
be tracking
> > > > comments
> > > > > > left
> > > > > > > > on
> > > > > > > > > the project’s Meta-Wiki page [4].
Furthermore, all
> important
> > > > ideas
> > > > > > and
> > > > > > > > > updates originating from the brand network
discussion will
> be
> > > > > shared
> > > > > > > > > publicly to mailing lists and Meta-Wiki.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > The development of this proposed identity
system will take
> > > > > > approximately
> > > > > > > > 6
> > > > > > > > > months. As stated, regular updates will be
shared to
> mailing
> > > > lists,
> > > > > > > > > Wikimedia Space, and Meta-Wiki [4]. Please
engage us where
> > you
> > > > are
> > > > > > most
> > > > > > > > > comfortable! Once complete, community groups
will have the
> > > power
> > > > to
> > > > > > > > decide
> > > > > > > > > if/when they opt in to using the new system.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Yours,
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Zack
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > [1]
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2019/02/26/leading-
> > > with-wikipedia-a-brand-proposal-for-2030/
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > [2]
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Communications/Wikimedia_
> > > brands/2030_research_and_planning/community_review/results
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > [3]
https://discuss-space.wmflabs.org/g/brand-network and
> > > click
> > > > > the
> > > > > > gray
> > > > > > > > > "Request" button. When your request
is approved, you will
> be
> > > able
> > > > > to
> > > > > > see
> > > > > > > > > and access the brand network discussion
category on the
> > Discuss
> > > > > Space
> > > > > > > > main
> > > > > > > > > page.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > [4]
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Communications/Wikimedia_
> > > brands/2030_research_and_planning
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Zack McCune (he/him)
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Director of Brand
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Wikimedia Foundation
<https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
> > > > > > > > >
_______________________________________________
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