Too bad I couldn't make it in time. I was really looking forward to meeting you. :(

On 12 April 2010 11:36, CherianTinu Abraham tinucherian@gmail.com wrote:

Thanq Nadig for uploading the images with CC By SA license, I will "copy" them to our commons too..

Btw there was a news column today on"Times of India" newspaper regarding this meetup and Bishakha Datta.

E-editions can found below.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Wikipedia-cries-for-desi-c...

Waiting for the new articles from The Hindu , DNA and Bangalore Mirror who have covered the event.

Bishakha, It was nice meeting you and having your presence at our Wikimeetup @Bangalore.

Thanks Tinu Cherian

On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 10:47 PM, Hari Prasad Nadig hpnadig@gmail.comwrote:

...

People,

Some photos from today's Bangalore meet-up: http://is.gd/bowby

(FlickR)

Hari Prasad Nadig http://hpnadig.net | http://twitter.com/hpnadig http://flickr.com/hpnadig

---

Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l

---

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Times of India consists ONLY of experts at misquoting us Wikipedians and flicking out work from the Commons. :D Ask user PlaneMad about it, he'll give you more info. Though a while back, there was this guy from the Tamil Wiki who apparently, was the head of the to be formed India chapter.. :D Regards,

On 12 April 2010 12:03, Bishakha Datta bishakhadatta@gmail.com wrote:

Great meeting all. The TOI report, unfortunately, misquotes both me and Achal. Last para particularly badly mangled.

And of course the melodramatic headline "Wikipedia cries" could do with some NPOV.:)

Bishakha

On Mon, Apr 12, 2010 at 11:36 AM, CherianTinu Abraham < tinucherian@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Thanq Nadig for uploading the images with CC By SA license, I will "copy" them to our commons too..

Btw there was a news column today on"Times of India" newspaper regarding this meetup and Bishakha Datta.

E-editions can found below.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Wikipedia-cries-for-desi-c...

Waiting for the new articles from The Hindu , DNA and Bangalore Mirror who have covered the event.

Bishakha, It was nice meeting you and having your presence at our Wikimeetup @Bangalore.

Thanks Tinu Cherian

On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 10:47 PM, Hari Prasad Nadig hpnadig@gmail.comwrote:

...

People,

Some photos from today's Bangalore meet-up: http://is.gd/bowby

(FlickR)

Hari Prasad Nadig http://hpnadig.net | http://twitter.com/hpnadig http://flickr.com/hpnadig

---

Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l

---

Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l

Exactly my point, this fellow claimed to be the 'official spokesperson' for ALL of us and our activities and the head of the Chapter as well. Strangely, we have no clue, where he came from, or who he is.

On 12 April 2010 14:06, BalaSundaraRaman sundarbecse@yahoo.com wrote:

Srikanth,

A clarification: the person you're referring to, is not a Tamil Wikipedian as such (no edits). He might've claimed so.

• Sundar

"That language is an instrument of human reason, and not merely a medium for the expression of thought, is a truth generally admitted."

• George Boole, quoted in Iverson's Turing Award Lecture

*From:* Srikanth Ramakrishnan rsrikanth05@gmail.com *To:* wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org *Sent:* Mon, April 12, 2010 1:39:28 PM *Subject:* Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Wikipedia Bangalore Meet-up April 11, 2010

Times of India consists ONLY of experts at misquoting us Wikipedians and flicking out work from the Commons. :D Ask user PlaneMad about it, he'll give you more info. Though a while back, there was this guy from the Tamil Wiki who apparently, was the head of the to be formed India chapter.. :D Regards,

On 12 April 2010 12:03, Bishakha Datta bishakhadatta@gmail.com wrote:

...

Great meeting all. The TOI report, unfortunately, misquotes both me and Achal. Last para particularly badly mangled.

And of course the melodramatic headline "Wikipedia cries" could do with some NPOV.:)

Bishakha

On Mon, Apr 12, 2010 at 11:36 AM, CherianTinu Abraham < tinucherian@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Thanq Nadig for uploading the images with CC By SA license, I will "copy" them to our commons too..

Btw there was a news column today on"Times of India" newspaper regarding this meetup and Bishakha Datta.

E-editions can found below.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Wikipedia-cries-for-desi-c...

Waiting for the new articles from The Hindu , DNA and Bangalore Mirror who have covered the event.

Bishakha, It was nice meeting you and having your presence at our Wikimeetup @Bangalore.

Thanks Tinu Cherian

On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 10:47 PM, Hari Prasad Nadig hpnadig@gmail.comwrote:

...

People,

Some photos from today's Bangalore meet-up: http://is.gd/bowby

(FlickR)

Hari Prasad Nadig http://hpnadig.net | http://twitter.com/hpnadig http://flickr.com/hpnadig

---

Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l

---

Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l

-- Regards, Arun Srikanth. Wear a Lungi, Support the Movement, Uyirin Uyirae Sent from my Motorola SLVR L9.

---

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You are more generous than me in forgiving the DNA reporter for saying dictionary for what the whole world knows is an encyclopedia.:)

I feel the following misquotes/inaccuracies are somewhat damaging: *para 2 - which make it sound as if I am claiming leadership in India, setting up the office and the chapter, when I'm doing neither - and said so repeatedly. *last para - the fictional quote on 'Malayalam articles having more depth.' I don't recall anyone saying this, let alone me.

Media coverage will only intensify with each step: the formation of the chapter, etc etc. The problem with this kind of misreporting is that it makes others wary, and wrongly credits an individual (that too the wrong individual) for a collective effort. Just want to flag this to ensure there is no ill-feeling among us.

For now, media attention is focused on me for obvious reasons. But in due course, it would be good for more and more Wikipedians - including those who are active on the proposed chapter formation - to start talking more and more to media, so that many voices represent wikipedia in India. I tried to do this to some extent at the Sun meeting by redirecting questions to Achal, Arun, and others...but they still attributed the stuff to me.

There's only so many times I can apologize for what is not my error...if anybody has any thoughts on how this coverage can be improved (apart from letters to editor, which can only be done once so often), do share.

Best Bishakha

On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 6:48 PM, CherianTinu Abraham tinucherian@gmail.comwrote:

Related news on DNA newspaper, Bangalore Ed, today

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_wikipedia-now-has-an-indian-face_13... http://epaper.dnaindia.com/dnabangalore/epapermain.aspx Page 8 " wikipedia-now-has-an-indian-face"

Forgive the reporter for the artcile saying "online collaborative dictionary" instead of "online collaborative encyclopedia" . Blame the copyeditor :)

Thanks Tinu Cherian

On Mon, Apr 12, 2010 at 11:36 AM, CherianTinu Abraham < tinucherian@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Thanq Nadig for uploading the images with CC By SA license, I will "copy" them to our commons too..

Btw there was a news column today on"Times of India" newspaper regarding this meetup and Bishakha Datta.

E-editions can found below.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Wikipedia-cries-for-desi-c...

Waiting for the new articles from The Hindu , DNA and Bangalore Mirror who have covered the event.

Bishakha, It was nice meeting you and having your presence at our Wikimeetup @Bangalore.

Thanks Tinu Cherian

On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 10:47 PM, Hari Prasad Nadig hpnadig@gmail.comwrote:

...

People,

Some photos from today's Bangalore meet-up: http://is.gd/bowby

(FlickR)

Hari Prasad Nadig http://hpnadig.net | http://twitter.com/hpnadig http://flickr.com/hpnadig

---

Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l

Hi Bishaka,

Welcome to Wikipedia.

No ill-feelings :) I have had similar misreporting experiences with media.

One way for better media management will be to take minutes during the meeting and handing over a formal written press release to the media people. We can also give contact numbers to clarify and request to see the report before going to print.

Regards,

Ravi

On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 9:17 PM, Bishakha Datta bishakhadatta@gmail.comwrote:

You are more generous than me in forgiving the DNA reporter for saying dictionary for what the whole world knows is an encyclopedia.:)

I feel the following misquotes/inaccuracies are somewhat damaging: *para 2 - which make it sound as if I am claiming leadership in India, setting up the office and the chapter, when I'm doing neither - and said so repeatedly. *last para - the fictional quote on 'Malayalam articles having more depth.' I don't recall anyone saying this, let alone me.

Media coverage will only intensify with each step: the formation of the chapter, etc etc. The problem with this kind of misreporting is that it makes others wary, and wrongly credits an individual (that too the wrong individual) for a collective effort. Just want to flag this to ensure there is no ill-feeling among us.

For now, media attention is focused on me for obvious reasons. But in due course, it would be good for more and more Wikipedians - including those who are active on the proposed chapter formation - to start talking more and more to media, so that many voices represent wikipedia in India. I tried to do this to some extent at the Sun meeting by redirecting questions to Achal, Arun, and others...but they still attributed the stuff to me.

There's only so many times I can apologize for what is not my error...if anybody has any thoughts on how this coverage can be improved (apart from letters to editor, which can only be done once so often), do share.

Best Bishakha

On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 6:48 PM, CherianTinu Abraham < tinucherian@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Related news on DNA newspaper, Bangalore Ed, today

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_wikipedia-now-has-an-indian-face_13... http://epaper.dnaindia.com/dnabangalore/epapermain.aspx Page 8 " wikipedia-now-has-an-indian-face"

Forgive the reporter for the artcile saying "online collaborative dictionary" instead of "online collaborative encyclopedia" . Blame the copyeditor :)

Thanks Tinu Cherian

On Mon, Apr 12, 2010 at 11:36 AM, CherianTinu Abraham < tinucherian@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Thanq Nadig for uploading the images with CC By SA license, I will "copy" them to our commons too..

Btw there was a news column today on"Times of India" newspaper regarding this meetup and Bishakha Datta.

E-editions can found below.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Wikipedia-cries-for-desi-c...

Waiting for the new articles from The Hindu , DNA and Bangalore Mirror who have covered the event.

Bishakha, It was nice meeting you and having your presence at our Wikimeetup @Bangalore.

Thanks Tinu Cherian

On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 10:47 PM, Hari Prasad Nadig hpnadig@gmail.comwrote:

...

People,

Some photos from today's Bangalore meet-up: http://is.gd/bowby

(FlickR)

Hari Prasad Nadig http://hpnadig.net | http://twitter.com/hpnadig http://flickr.com/hpnadig

---

Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l

---

Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l

Srikanth,

1. Whether they take or not, this will be a professional way for us to do. This will also be a good way to document our activities.

2. And if they take, it is a good chance for us to convey the exact message as it is. During the press conference on Tamil Wiki contest, while many magazines misreported, the ones we sent a press release published it exactly. When all they want is news and not views, the press release will help. If we can send a press release, even the magazines who didn't send their reporters personally will cover the event.

3. It will be good idea to elect / select and announce Spokespersons who can speak on behalf on Wiki in India (both language wise and on behalf of chapter when it is formed). This way media will be aware of the right people to contact if they want to clarify any thing.

Ravi

On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 12:01 AM, Srikanth Ramakrishnan < rsrikanth05@gmail.com> wrote:

Ravi, while that is a good point, do you think the press still will take it? I mean, it's not what they get, but what they put into the final print. Regards,

read 'an external body' instead of media in my previous email. I guess we have enough 'good experience' with non media communication as well.

Regards, Jyothis.

http://www.Jyothis.net

http://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jyothis

I am the first customer of http://www.netdotnet.com woods are lovely dark and deep, but i have promises to keep and miles to go before i sleep and lines to go before I press sleep

completion date = (start date + ((estimated effort x 3.1415926) / resources) + ((total coffee breaks x 0.25) / 24)) + Effort in meetings

On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 9:08 PM, Jyothis Edathoot je@jyothis.net wrote:

Ravi,

Good points. I agree that it is better to provide a prepared release. Whether they want it or not is not our issue.

Further to point 3, it would be better if the media channel is limited to the designated people. Rest of the folks could just redirect all queries to them and let the designated person talk for the project/foundation chapter ( Something like the way that we have in the meta identification notice board http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Identification_noticeboard where The top reads "do not add users unless you are Cary Bass") . This will help us in putting a consistent face and sound to the media. I am not saying that others cannot talk to the media at all, but others should not speak to the media on project's/foundation chapter's behalf. such an event can probably be quoted with a disclaimer that this is strictly their personal opinion and does not reflect the project's or chapter's stand on the question :-)

Thanks.

Regards, Jyothis.

http://www.Jyothis.net http://www.jyothis.net/

http://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jyothis

woods are lovely dark and deep, but i have promises to keep and miles to go before i sleep and lines to go before I press sleep

completion date = (start date + ((estimated effort x 3.1415926) / resources) + ((total coffee breaks x 0.25) / 24)) + Effort in meetings

On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 3:52 PM, Ravishankar ravidreams@gmail.comwrote:

...

Srikanth,

1. Whether they take or not, this will be a professional way for us to do.

This will also be a good way to document our activities.

2. And if they take, it is a good chance for us to convey the exact

message as it is. During the press conference on Tamil Wiki contest, while many magazines misreported, the ones we sent a press release published it exactly. When all they want is news and not views, the press release will help. If we can send a press release, even the magazines who didn't send their reporters personally will cover the event.

3. It will be good idea to elect / select and announce Spokespersons who

can speak on behalf on Wiki in India (both language wise and on behalf of chapter when it is formed). This way media will be aware of the right people to contact if they want to clarify any thing.

Ravi

On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 12:01 AM, Srikanth Ramakrishnan < rsrikanth05@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Ravi, while that is a good point, do you think the press still will take it? I mean, it's not what they get, but what they put into the final print. Regards,

---

Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l

Ravi, Sorry, I guess you were correct. Jyothis, that is a good point, maybe we should hold a poll on Meta?

On 14 April 2010 10:50, Bishakha Datta bishakhadatta@gmail.com wrote:

Seems worthwhile to do both these - the most accurate bits in all the recent reports are from the Foundation's press release, which I forwarded them after the Sunday meet. Bishakha

On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 1:22 AM, Ravishankar ravidreams@gmail.comwrote:

...

Srikanth,

1. Whether they take or not, this will be a professional way for us to do.

This will also be a good way to document our activities.

2. And if they take, it is a good chance for us to convey the exact

message as it is. During the press conference on Tamil Wiki contest, while many magazines misreported, the ones we sent a press release published it exactly. When all they want is news and not views, the press release will help. If we can send a press release, even the magazines who didn't send their reporters personally will cover the event.

3. It will be good idea to elect / select and announce Spokespersons who

can speak on behalf on Wiki in India (both language wise and on behalf of chapter when it is formed). This way media will be aware of the right people to contact if they want to clarify any thing.

Ravi

On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 12:01 AM, Srikanth Ramakrishnan < rsrikanth05@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Ravi, while that is a good point, do you think the press still will take it? I mean, it's not what they get, but what they put into the final print. Regards,

---

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---

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Bishakha, The error was made by the copyeditor @DNA without the knowledge of the reporter. Btw this underlines the need for more outreach. There is still people who doesnt know Wikipedia is an encyclopedia ;) Jokes apart, the reporter has promised to carry a correction on this on a next issue.

It was me , during the meetup, who had mentioned Malayalam has the highest page depth among Indian language wikipedias. The reporter might have confused that it was you who had said so.

Anyways it is per stats ;) http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wikipedias#All_Wikipedias_ordered_by_... English : 504 Malayalam : 374

Please don't take this comment in any other sense. It is important that ALL language wikipedias should grow more and more.

It is ok to quote Datta regarding the chapter, as you are our official person on the Wikimedia Foundatation. It doesnt undermine the efforts of those Wikipedians working on setting up an Indian chapter.

It is obvious that the media was focused on you , this time and we do understand your genuine interest in recognizing the efforts of the Wikipedians. Dont worry, we, Achal, Sundar, Arunram, Nadig,Shiju Alex, Anoopan, me etc have been quoted several times earlier on Wikipedia India related news on the media :)

Btw related news on national editions of "The Hindu" today http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article396385.ece

Regards Tinu Cherian

On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 9:17 PM, Bishakha Datta bishakhadatta@gmail.comwrote:

You are more generous than me in forgiving the DNA reporter for saying dictionary for what the whole world knows is an encyclopedia.:)

I feel the following misquotes/inaccuracies are somewhat damaging: *para 2 - which make it sound as if I am claiming leadership in India, setting up the office and the chapter, when I'm doing neither - and said so repeatedly. *last para - the fictional quote on 'Malayalam articles having more depth.' I don't recall anyone saying this, let alone me.

Media coverage will only intensify with each step: the formation of the chapter, etc etc. The problem with this kind of misreporting is that it makes others wary, and wrongly credits an individual (that too the wrong individual) for a collective effort. Just want to flag this to ensure there is no ill-feeling among us.

For now, media attention is focused on me for obvious reasons. But in due course, it would be good for more and more Wikipedians - including those who are active on the proposed chapter formation - to start talking more and more to media, so that many voices represent wikipedia in India. I tried to do this to some extent at the Sun meeting by redirecting questions to Achal, Arun, and others...but they still attributed the stuff to me.

There's only so many times I can apologize for what is not my error...if anybody has any thoughts on how this coverage can be improved (apart from letters to editor, which can only be done once so often), do share.

Best Bishakha

On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 6:48 PM, CherianTinu Abraham < tinucherian@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Related news on DNA newspaper, Bangalore Ed, today

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_wikipedia-now-has-an-indian-face_13... http://epaper.dnaindia.com/dnabangalore/epapermain.aspx Page 8 " wikipedia-now-has-an-indian-face"

Forgive the reporter for the artcile saying "online collaborative dictionary" instead of "online collaborative encyclopedia" . Blame the copyeditor :)

Thanks Tinu Cherian

On Mon, Apr 12, 2010 at 11:36 AM, CherianTinu Abraham < tinucherian@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Thanq Nadig for uploading the images with CC By SA license, I will "copy" them to our commons too..

Btw there was a news column today on"Times of India" newspaper regarding this meetup and Bishakha Datta.

E-editions can found below.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Wikipedia-cries-for-desi-c...

Waiting for the new articles from The Hindu , DNA and Bangalore Mirror who have covered the event.

Bishakha, It was nice meeting you and having your presence at our Wikimeetup @Bangalore.

Thanks Tinu Cherian

On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 10:47 PM, Hari Prasad Nadig hpnadig@gmail.comwrote:

...

People,

Some photos from today's Bangalore meet-up: http://is.gd/bowby

(FlickR)

Hari Prasad Nadig http://hpnadig.net | http://twitter.com/hpnadig http://flickr.com/hpnadig

---

Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l

Srikanth,

We have selected such spokespersons through a vote in Tamil Wikipedia itself. (similar to sysop voting process). Since Tamil Wiki is a close knit community, we proposed around 12 names and all were elected unanimously.

After having this team of 12, we form subgroups for various purposes. So for the Govt contest we have a team of 5. For interacting with corporates and representing in Wikimedia chapter we support Sundar. I help in media connections etc., Some take care of reaching immigrant Tamil people. So, while we have an understanding and authorization from community, we also have various faces for various tasks.

These people are spread across various parts of India and the World. Having more names gives a sense of inclusiveness for all. We also have non-sysops and fresh faces among these 12.

So it is best to do this process in local wiki and inform this mailing list / chapter so people can redirect to the right persons. META wiki need not be involved in this.

Ravi

On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 7:16 PM, Srikanth Ramakrishnan < rsrikanth05@gmail.com> wrote:

Jyothis, a poll , or something like an RfA.. You stand, we elect, and we vote on someone from each indian language to represent that particular wiki [ALL, not just Wikipedia, Wikisource, Wikibooks, etc.] in India, to Indian newspapers. Regards,

Srikanth,

Thanks for the understanding.

An ideal and desirable state will be that the WMF, Local chapters and Local Wiki communities all co-exist with autonomy and facilitate each other's function rather than routing everything through one or another.

Regards,

Ravi

On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 9:04 PM, Srikanth Ramakrishnan < rsrikanth05@gmail.com> wrote:

Ravi, META was just a suggestion. Local wikis are fine too. Regards, Srikanth