Dear all,
We seek community input on a proposed WikiProject called "WikiProject Accuracy"
conceptualized by Ms. Betty Wills (User:Atsme). Following a recent discussion with Betty,
I decided to bring it here for community input because of the possible controversy that
may arise from establishing a WikiProject like this.
The primary goals of WikiProject Accuracy are to:
*Increase quality of Wikipedia articles
*Increase reliability of Wikipedia articles
*Promote/improve collaboration among experienced editors
*Promote existing editors retention
Betty's ideas are to form a team of Project Accuracy Coordinators to oversee the
project, help establish criteria and minimum qualifications for fact-check teams, help
with the project's page design and tasks and to form additional teams comprising
appointed representatives from other project teams to help coordinate and organize a list
of articles for review, and who will serve as members of Project Accuracy's Editorial
Review Board (PAERB). The PAERB will be responsible for review and approval of articles
nominated to bear the "reviewed and approved for accuracy" seal in the top right
corner of the article. The ideas also aim to support the WMF's "Reach"
campaign and help establish or re-establish credibility in Wikipedia articles that carry
the RAAFA seal as a trusted source worthy of citing at all levels of academia, government,
research, etc.
This seem like a unique approach to improving the quality of articles on Wikipedia and
increasing reliability of Wikipedia as an encyclopedia. The idea to bring experienced
editors together to serve in the editorial board of the project sounds like a great way to
benefit from the specialized skills of all participants.
However, an editor (User:Smallbones) raised a concern on whether this is in line with the
spirit of Wikipedia which permit anyone to freely edit its content at all levels.
User:Smallbones said " An Editorial Review Board sounds like a very interesting idea
and could be fun. But actually I think it could easily violate Wikipedia rules, such as
forming some sort of exclusive club that others couldn't join without an invitation.
If it's just another rating scheme (that anybody can participate in whenever they
want)"
I respect Smallbones concerns but I don't see a major problem with the idea of
establishing an Editorial Review Board (ERB) comprising of trusted and experienced editors
as board members. From the look of things, WikiProject Accuracy is likely to generate
controversy among Wikipedians. The controversy will centered on whether this idea is
against the vision of Wikipedia or not. Thus, we seek broader community input on this
proposed project.
Best,
Olatunde Isaac.
Manager, Wikipedia Education Program Nigeria.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.