Citizendium

Citizendium
Name	Citizendium
Type	Online encyclopedia
Language	English
Registration	Required for editing
Owner	Larry Sanger

Citizendium. Citizendium is an online wiki-based encyclopedia project founded by Larry Sanger, a co-founder of Wikipedia. Launched in 2006, it was conceived as an expert-guided alternative to Wikipedia, emphasizing academic rigor and real-name identities for its contributors, known as "Citizens." The project operates under a distinct governance model that includes appointed editors and constables to oversee content and community conduct, aiming for higher reliability and credibility in its articles.

History and founding

The project was formally announced by Larry Sanger in September 2006, following his departure from Wikipedia and his public critiques of its developing culture. Sanger had previously helped launch Nupedia, the expert-written precursor to Wikipedia. Initial development and funding were supported by a grant from the Tides Foundation, with early collaboration from institutions like the University of California, Berkeley. A pilot phase began in late 2006, inviting scholars from fields like biology and social sciences to participate. The site opened to the public in March 2007, with endorsements from figures such as Lawrence Lessig of Stanford Law School. Key early participants included Ruth Ifcher and Hayford Peirce, who helped establish its initial policies and article base.

Governance and policies

Citizendium operates under a formal charter that outlines roles for its community members. All contributors must register using their real names, verified by project constables, to become "Citizens." Content development is overseen by appointed editors, who are typically subject-matter experts with credentials from institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or the British Museum. These editors have authority to approve "stable" versions of articles, though most content remains in a collaborative draft state. The project's legal structure is managed by the Citizendium Foundation, and its policies cover areas such as neutral point of view, copyright adherence, and handling of topics like genocide or evolution.

Content and scope

The encyclopedia aims for broad coverage comparable to major reference works, spanning arts, history, science, and geography. Articles are intended to be vetted for accuracy and style, with a focus on topics like the French Revolution, quantum mechanics, and the works of William Shakespeare. A key feature is the "approved article," which receives a final stamp from an editor and is protected from further editing, though this status has been granted to only a small fraction of content. The project also hosts forums for discussion, such as the Symposium, and maintains specific guidelines for biographies of living persons and coverage of organizations like the United Nations.

Comparison with Wikipedia

While both projects use MediaWiki software, Citizendium explicitly contrasts itself with Wikipedia by requiring real names and expert oversight, whereas Wikipedia allows pseudonymous editing and relies on consensus-based governance. Citizendium's editors hold formal authority akin to traditional academic journal reviewers, unlike Wikipedia's community-elected administrators. The project also avoids the GFDL in favor of its own free content license. In practice, Citizendium's growth in article count has remained vastly smaller than Wikipedia's, with its model emphasizing depth over breadth, particularly in areas like philosophy or medieval history.

Reception and impact

Initial media coverage in outlets like The Guardian and The New York Times framed Citizendium as a potential "Wikipedia competitor" that could attract scholars from universities like Oxford University. Some academics, including Michael Gorman of the American Library Association, praised its approach to expertise. However, the project has been cited more as a conceptual influence on discussions about knowledge production and digital literacy than as a widely used reference. Its model informed later projects like Everipedia and debates at conferences such as Wikimania. Despite limited public adoption, it remains a case study in online community design for researchers at institutions like the Pew Research Center.

Challenges and controversies

The project has faced significant challenges, including slow growth, a largely dormant community, and difficulties attracting sustained expert participation. Criticisms have included allegations of bureaucracy and a top-down structure that stifled collaboration, leading to public disputes between Larry Sanger and other founders like Ed Poor. Financial constraints have been persistent, with the Citizendium Foundation struggling to secure funding beyond initial grants. Controversies have also arisen over content decisions, such as the handling of articles on Scientology or Barack Obama, and over broader questions about the feasibility of its gentle expert oversight model in the face of dominant platforms like Google and the Wikimedia Foundation.

Category:Online encyclopedias Category:Wiki websites Category:Internet properties established in 2006