Growing Pains
Growing Pains | ||
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| Panelists | Marc-André Pelletier (English Wikipedia), Jimmy Wales (Wikimedia Foundation), Kat Walsh (Wikimedia Foundation), Cary Bass (Wikimedia Foundation), Fayssal Fertakh (English Wikipedia), James Forrester (English Wikipedia), John Vandenberg (English Wikipedia) | |
| Themes | Communities | |
| About the panelists | ||
| Marc A. Pelletier (User:Coren) is a computer scientist and instructor in Montreal, Canada. A Wikipedian since 2003, and an administrator since 2007, he has been a member of the English Wikipedia Arbitration Committee since January 2009. Jimmy "Jimbo" Wales, is an American Internet entrepreneur best known for founding Wikipedia.org, as well as other wiki-related organizations, including the charitable organization Wikimedia Foundation, and the for-profit company Wikia, Inc. Wales received his Bachelor's degree in finance from Auburn University and his Master's in finance from University of Alabama. He was appointed a fellow of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School in 2005 and in 2006, he joined the Board of Directors of the non-profit organization Creative Commons. In January of 2001, Wales started Wikipedia.org, the online encyclopedia that anyone can edit and today Wikipedia and its sister projects are among the top-five most visited sites on the web (comScore, January 2009). In mid-2003, Wales set up the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization based in St. Petersburg, Florida, to support Wikipedia.org. The Foundation, now based in downtown San Francisco, boasts a staff of close to thirty focusing on fundraising, technology, and programming relating to the expansion of Wikipedia. Wales now sits on the board of trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation, and as founder continues to act as a key spokesperson. In 2004, Wales co-founded Wikia, Inc., a for-profit company that enables groups of people to share information and opinions that fall outside the scope of an encyclopedia. Wikia’s community-created wikis range from video games and movies to finance and environmental issues. Wikia, Inc., attracts more than 30 million unique visitors per month to its 10,000+ enthusiast communities. In 2007, The World Economic Forum recognized Wales as one of the “Young Global Leaders.” This prestigious award acknowledges the top 250 young leaders for their professional accomplishments, their commitment to society and their potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world. In addition, Wales received the “Time 100 Award” in 2006, as he was named one of the world’s most influential people in the “Scientists & Thinkers” category.Kat Walsh is a member of the Board of the Wikimedia Foundation, and previously served as a member of the English Wikipedia's Arbitration Committee. Cary Bass is a Wikipedia editor since 2004. Cary joined the Wikimedia Foundation in March of 2007. He serves as the Volunteer Coordinator. Fayssal Fertakh (User:FayssalF) is a Moroccan management professional and a freelance web developer. Fayssal joined the English Wikipedia in April 2005 before becoming an administrator in December of the same year. He's been serving the project as a member of the English Wikipedia Arbitration Committee since January 2008. James Forrester is a long-term Wikimedian, involved in the projects, primarily the English Wikipedia, since 2002. He served as the founding Company Secretary of Wikimedia UK from 2005-7, as the Chief Research Officer of the Wikimedia Foundation from 2006–2007, and as an Arbitrator for the English Wikipedia from 2003-2008. John Vandenberg (User:Jayvdb) is an Australian software engineer that has been contributing to the English Wikipedia since 2006 and Wikisource. He has joined the English Wikipedia Arbitration committee in January of 2009. | ||
| Abstract | ||
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From a small website frequented by a few dedicated enthusiasts to the fourth biggest website of the world, Wikipedia is not today what it was four - or even two - years ago. The changing profile of readers and editors, and the increased media focus and scrutiny has profoundly changed the importance and nature of disputes on Wikipedia. Six panelist with day to day experience solving the most divisive and heated disputes discuss how things have changed, how applicable the founding principles remain today, and how to avoid and solve the worst problems. | ||
| Language | English
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