Hi, all.
In addition to the advisory here:
We wanted to provide you with a draft of the press release we will send to press on January 13 630PM UTC. We will send an updated version which will include quotes form Sue and Jimmy then. Like the advisory, you are free to use however you like. You can add local information, take out information or use it as it is.
How to use it: I think the best thing to do is start translating it now. Then, when we send you the final with Jimmy and Sue's quotes on January 13, it will allow you to translate those quickly and send to press then.
To localize it further, you can include how many events are happening in your region and include details about them. If you participated in the fundraiser this year, you can insert information about how much you raised locally.
If you have questions about how to localize, let me know and we can work on it together.
This "website with a funny name" bit - we're sure that works?
FT2
On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 7:19 PM, Moka Pantages mpantages@wikimedia.orgwrote:
Hi, all.
In addition to the advisory here:
We wanted to provide you with a draft of the press release we will send to press on January 13 630PM UTC. We will send an updated version which will include quotes form Sue and Jimmy then. Like the advisory, you are free to use however you like. You can add local information, take out information or use it as it is.
How to use it: I think the best thing to do is start translating it now. Then, when we send you the final with Jimmy and Sue's quotes on January 13, it will allow you to translate those quickly and send to press then.
To localize it further, you can include how many events are happening in your region and include details about them. If you participated in the fundraiser this year, you can insert information about how much you raised locally.
If you have questions about how to localize, let me know and we can work on it together.
-- Cheers, Moka
Moka Pantages
San Francisco, January 15, 2011 -- On this day ten years ago, a website with a funny name invited people everywhere to come together to create a free encyclopedia. The initial results were underwhelming. The article "Astronomer" simply said: "Scientist whose area of Research is Astronomy." Sweden: "Country in Northern Europe. Inhabitants are called Swedes. Language spoken is Swedish. Capital is Stockholm." Physics: "Physics is a very broad subject."
Following these humble beginnings, Wikipedia grew quickly, and 1,000 articles were written in less than a month. Over the next five years, many new language versions were launched, and Wikipedia began to surpass traditional reference sources in breadth and depth. The secret to its success: anyone can edit any article. In January 2006, Wikipedia volunteer Gareth Owen wrote on his user page: "The problem with Wikipedia is that it only works in practice. In theory, it's a total disaster."
Wikipedia is now consulted by more than 400 million people every month. It provides instant access to high quality and in-depth information, free of charge and free of advertising. In the last decade, a vast and unique global volunteer community has come together to create more than 17 million articles in 270 languages, advancing the cause of free knowledge for every person on the planet.
Today, January 15, the Wikipedia community is coming together in almost 300 locations all over the planet to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the free encyclopedia. From a conference in New York to a concert in Prague, from the launch of a new school project in Nairobi to a museum bootcamp in Amsterdam, from a beer-meet in Bucharest to a film screening in Tel Aviv, the events are organized by volunteers and Wikimedia chapters, as well as independent supporters. The events are open to participation by anyone and reflect the diversity of the community.
Wikipedia is operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, a charitable non-profit organization established by Wales in 2003. It is entirely supported by donations, and just completed the most successful fundraiser in its history, with more than 500,000 individual donations totaling more than $16 million.
415.839.6885 x 635 @moka
WikiX-l mailing list WikiX-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikix-l
Sure that works...I've always found the name funny, and people still ask me why they chose such a funny name. Hawaiian words always sound a bit funny around here, anyway. Bob the Wikipedian
On 1/9/2011 4:54 PM, FT2 wrote:
This "website with a funny name" bit - we're sure that works? FT2
On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 7:19 PM, Moka Pantages <mpantages@wikimedia.org mailto:mpantages@wikimedia.org> wrote:
Hi, all. In addition to the advisory here: We wanted to provide you with a draft of the press release we will send to press on January 13 630PM UTC. We will send an updated version which will include quotes form Sue and Jimmy then. Like the advisory, you are free to use however you like. You can add local information, take out information or use it as it is. How to use it: I think the best thing to do is start translating it now. Then, when we send you the final with Jimmy and Sue's quotes on January 13, it will allow you to translate those quickly and send to press then. To localize it further, you can include how many events are happening in your region and include details about them. If you participated in the fundraiser this year, you can insert information about how much you raised locally. If you have questions about how to localize, let me know and we can work on it together. -- Cheers, Moka Moka Pantages San Francisco, January 15, 2011 -- On this day ten years ago, a website with a funny name invited people everywhere to come together to create a free encyclopedia. The initial results were underwhelming. The article "Astronomer" simply said: "Scientist whose area of Research is Astronomy." Sweden: "Country in Northern Europe. Inhabitants are called Swedes. Language spoken is Swedish. Capital is Stockholm." Physics: "Physics is a very broad subject." Following these humble beginnings, Wikipedia grew quickly, and 1,000 articles were written in less than a month. Over the next five years, many new language versions were launched, and Wikipedia began to surpass traditional reference sources in breadth and depth. The secret to its success: anyone can edit any article. In January 2006, Wikipedia volunteer Gareth Owen wrote on his user page: "The problem with Wikipedia is that it only works in practice. In theory, it's a total disaster." Wikipedia is now consulted by more than 400 million people every month. It provides instant access to high quality and in-depth information, free of charge and free of advertising. In the last decade, a vast and unique global volunteer community has come together to create more than 17 million articles in 270 languages, advancing the cause of free knowledge for every person on the planet. Today, January 15, the Wikipedia community is coming together in almost 300 locations all over the planet to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the free encyclopedia. From a conference in New York to a concert in Prague, from the launch of a new school project in Nairobi to a museum bootcamp in Amsterdam, from a beer-meet in Bucharest to a film screening in Tel Aviv, the events are organized by volunteers and Wikimedia chapters, as well as independent supporters. The events are open to participation by anyone and reflect the diversity of the community. Wikipedia is operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, a charitable non-profit organization established by Wales in 2003. It is entirely supported by donations, and just completed the most successful fundraiser in its history, with more than 500,000 individual donations totaling more than $16 million. 415.839.6885 x 635 @moka _______________________________________________ WikiX-l mailing list WikiX-l@lists.wikimedia.org <mailto:WikiX-l@lists.wikimedia.org> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikix-l
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You need to admit that "Wikipedia" is a funny name.
Maybe not for us. Not anymore, years editing Wikipedia make we have others feelings for the name, but for a newcomer it was, and still are, a very strange and funny name. _____ *Béria Lima* Wikimedia Portugal http://wikimedia.pt (351) 963 953 042
*Imagine um mundo onde é dada a qualquer pessoa a possibilidade de ter livre acesso ao somatório de todo o conhecimento humano. É isso o que estamos a fazer.*
2011/1/9 FT2 ft2.wiki@gmail.com
This "website with a funny name" bit - we're sure that works?
FT2
On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 7:19 PM, Moka Pantages mpantages@wikimedia.orgwrote:
Hi, all.
In addition to the advisory here:
We wanted to provide you with a draft of the press release we will send to press on January 13 630PM UTC. We will send an updated version which will include quotes form Sue and Jimmy then. Like the advisory, you are free to use however you like. You can add local information, take out information or use it as it is.
How to use it: I think the best thing to do is start translating it now. Then, when we send you the final with Jimmy and Sue's quotes on January 13, it will allow you to translate those quickly and send to press then.
To localize it further, you can include how many events are happening in your region and include details about them. If you participated in the fundraiser this year, you can insert information about how much you raised locally.
If you have questions about how to localize, let me know and we can work on it together.
-- Cheers, Moka
Moka Pantages
San Francisco, January 15, 2011 -- On this day ten years ago, a website with a funny name invited people everywhere to come together to create a free encyclopedia. The initial results were underwhelming. The article "Astronomer" simply said: "Scientist whose area of Research is Astronomy." Sweden: "Country in Northern Europe. Inhabitants are called Swedes. Language spoken is Swedish. Capital is Stockholm." Physics: "Physics is a very broad subject."
Following these humble beginnings, Wikipedia grew quickly, and 1,000 articles were written in less than a month. Over the next five years, many new language versions were launched, and Wikipedia began to surpass traditional reference sources in breadth and depth. The secret to its success: anyone can edit any article. In January 2006, Wikipedia volunteer Gareth Owen wrote on his user page: "The problem with Wikipedia is that it only works in practice. In theory, it's a total disaster."
Wikipedia is now consulted by more than 400 million people every month. It provides instant access to high quality and in-depth information, free of charge and free of advertising. In the last decade, a vast and unique global volunteer community has come together to create more than 17 million articles in 270 languages, advancing the cause of free knowledge for every person on the planet.
Today, January 15, the Wikipedia community is coming together in almost 300 locations all over the planet to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the free encyclopedia. From a conference in New York to a concert in Prague, from the launch of a new school project in Nairobi to a museum bootcamp in Amsterdam, from a beer-meet in Bucharest to a film screening in Tel Aviv, the events are organized by volunteers and Wikimedia chapters, as well as independent supporters. The events are open to participation by anyone and reflect the diversity of the community.
Wikipedia is operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, a charitable non-profit organization established by Wales in 2003. It is entirely supported by donations, and just completed the most successful fundraiser in its history, with more than 500,000 individual donations totaling more than $16 million.
415.839.6885 x 635 @moka
WikiX-l mailing list WikiX-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikix-l
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I asked Moka off-list to clarify the points that were concerning me. My comment and her response are below.
She suggested I forward it to the list, "I think it's a good point to raise to help others think through how the release might be tailored. In the end, it's there for them to edit and remix."
So see below :)
FT2
*My email:*
While laughing gently at one's past is admirable, I'm just not sure about the degree of self-deprecation. In this release a reader takes away the key points that it has a "funny name", that its early articles were pointless and trite, that the last words in the next paragraph (which tend to linger) are "total disaster".
The rest (and anything strong) comes much further down, but traditionally a skim-reader is less likely to pick up on stuff the further down it is.
I guess I mainly want to re-check, does this work in media terms?
*Response:*
I hear you. I think this release is more about writing to celebrate, rather than writing for a real news hook. If you take a look at most of the Foundation releases, it's more about the ceremonial process.
The nice thing about the 10 year is that almost all press are already writing about it, so we dont have to sell them on a story-- and that's mainly the function of a press release.
Does that make sense?
Those are valid points, FT2 - thanks. There are many ways we could go about this release, and I think the direction taken here is in line with how we expect much (not all) media to engage on this topic: celebratory, somewhat light-hearted and joyful look at the project.
I like this version in that it proposes a lofty trajectory of growth and change. It doesn't try to cover all of the bases, and though the final version has some of the vision-forward facing stuff, it strikes a reasonable balance.
Glad to see everyone's comments of course. The release isn't the center of the celebration - let's hope the coverage generated by all of the events, chapters, and celebrators builds for a great story.
On Jan 9, 2011, at 8:19 PM, FT2 wrote:
I asked Moka off-list to clarify the points that were concerning me. My comment and her response are below.
She suggested I forward it to the list, "I think it's a good point to raise to help others think through how the release might be tailored. In the end, it's there for them to edit and remix."
So see below :)
FT2
My email: While laughing gently at one's past is admirable, I'm just not sure about the degree of self-deprecation. In this release a reader takes away the key points that it has a "funny name", that its early articles were pointless and trite, that the last words in the next paragraph (which tend to linger) are "total disaster".
The rest (and anything strong) comes much further down, but traditionally a skim-reader is less likely to pick up on stuff the further down it is.
I guess I mainly want to re-check, does this work in media terms?
Response: I hear you. I think this release is more about writing to celebrate, rather than writing for a real news hook. If you take a look at most of the Foundation releases, it's more about the ceremonial process.
The nice thing about the 10 year is that almost all press are already writing about it, so we dont have to sell them on a story-- and that's mainly the function of a press release.
Does that make sense? _______________________________________________ WikiX-l mailing list WikiX-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikix-l
Thanks, F2.
It's always good to receive feedback so we know what's working and not working for volunteers in all parts of the world. When we create these resources, it's important for everyone to share ideas/opinions/suggestions so we can apply what we learn in the future.
And again, like I mentioned in my initial email, right now we're trying to create things in a way that is customizable, or provide examples for ways to use the information. We really encourage you to change it in any way you feel will be most effective for press in your region.
Cheers, Moka
On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 8:19 PM, FT2 ft2.wiki@gmail.com wrote:
I asked Moka off-list to clarify the points that were concerning me. My comment and her response are below.
She suggested I forward it to the list, "I think it's a good point to raise to help others think through how the release might be tailored. In the end, it's there for them to edit and remix."
So see below :)
FT2
My email:
While laughing gently at one's past is admirable, I'm just not sure about the degree of self-deprecation. In this release a reader takes away the key points that it has a "funny name", that its early articles were pointless and trite, that the last words in the next paragraph (which tend to linger) are "total disaster".
The rest (and anything strong) comes much further down, but traditionally a skim-reader is less likely to pick up on stuff the further down it is.
I guess I mainly want to re-check, does this work in media terms?
Response:
I hear you. I think this release is more about writing to celebrate, rather than writing for a real news hook. If you take a look at most of the Foundation releases, it's more about the ceremonial process.
The nice thing about the 10 year is that almost all press are already writing about it, so we dont have to sell them on a story-- and that's mainly the function of a press release.
Does that make sense?
WikiX-l mailing list WikiX-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikix-l
hi,
I see that the embargo is for January 14 0000 hrs (India time). For us, this means that the press release will go out on January 14, 2010. This means it will appear in the papers only on January 15 here.
Papers here get ready for print (without breaking stories) at about 4 pm - 5 pm. Having a press release before that time on January 13 would be of help as the report would appear on Jan 14 and will give people time to see the information and attend the event.
Suggesting a time line of January 13, 2011 around 1030 hrs UTC or earlier would be great. Dunno how it affects celebrations further down the line towards Australia and New Zealand.
warm regards, Pradeep
On 10 January 2011 10:08, Moka Pantages mpantages@wikimedia.org wrote:
Thanks, F2.
It's always good to receive feedback so we know what's working and not working for volunteers in all parts of the world. When we create these resources, it's important for everyone to share ideas/opinions/suggestions so we can apply what we learn in the future.
And again, like I mentioned in my initial email, right now we're trying to create things in a way that is customizable, or provide examples for ways to use the information. We really encourage you to change it in any way you feel will be most effective for press in your region.
Cheers, Moka
On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 8:19 PM, FT2 ft2.wiki@gmail.com wrote:
I asked Moka off-list to clarify the points that were concerning me. My comment and her response are below.
She suggested I forward it to the list, "I think it's a good point to
raise
to help others think through how the release might be tailored. In the
end,
it's there for them to edit and remix."
So see below :)
FT2
My email:
While laughing gently at one's past is admirable, I'm just not sure about the degree of self-deprecation. In this release a reader takes away the
key
points that it has a "funny name", that its early articles were pointless and trite, that the last words in the next paragraph (which tend to
linger)
are "total disaster".
The rest (and anything strong) comes much further down, but traditionally
a
skim-reader is less likely to pick up on stuff the further down it is.
I guess I mainly want to re-check, does this work in media terms?
Response:
I hear you. I think this release is more about writing to celebrate, rather than writing for a real news hook. If you take a look at most of the Foundation releases, it's more about the ceremonial process.
The nice thing about the 10 year is that almost all press are already writing about it, so we dont have to sell them on a story-- and that's mainly the function of a press release.
Does that make sense?
WikiX-l mailing list WikiX-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikix-l
-- Cheers, Moka
Moka Pantages 415.839.6885 x 635 @moka
WikiX-l mailing list WikiX-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikix-l