Wikinews

Wikinews
source
Name	Wikinews
Url	https://www.wikinews.org/
Type	Wiki-based news source
Language	Multilingual
Registration	Optional
Owner	Wikimedia Foundation
Author	Wikimedia community
Launch date	8 November 2004
Current status	Active

Wikinews is a free-content news source and a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. It operates as a wiki, allowing volunteers to collaboratively write and edit original news reports on current events from a neutral point of view. The project was launched in late 2004 with the goal of creating a diverse, independent, and freely accessible news service, complementing the encyclopedic mission of its sister project, Wikipedia. Wikinews content is published under a Creative Commons license, specifically the Attribution 2.5 license, and is available in multiple languages through its various local editions.

History and development

The concept for Wikinews was proposed in 2003 by Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, who saw a need for a neutral, collaborative news platform. The project was officially approved by the Wikimedia Foundation board in 2004, with the English-language edition launching on November 8, 2004. Early development was influenced by the principles and software of Wikipedia, utilizing the same MediaWiki platform. The project quickly expanded, with the German edition, known as Wikinews:German, launching shortly after in December 2004. Key early contributors included veterans from the Wikipedia community who helped establish foundational policies. A significant milestone was the project's first original reporting, which covered events like the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and the 2005 papal conclave. Over the years, Wikinews has participated in major global events, providing on-the-ground reports during incidents such as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and various political conventions like the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Content and structure

Wikinews content consists primarily of original reporting, summaries of news from external sources, and in-depth interviews. Articles are structured with a classic inverted pyramid (journalism) style, beginning with a concise lead and followed by detailed paragraphs. Each article must adhere to a strict neutral point of view policy and cite reliable sources, which can include major outlets like the BBC, Reuters, and The Associated Press. The project organizes content through a system of categories, such as Category:Politics and conflicts and Category:Science and technology, and uses Template:Wikinews for consistent formatting. Special content types include original reporting, where contributors conduct first-hand interviews or attend events, and audio reports published as Ogg Vorbis files. The site also features regular interviews with notable figures from fields like politics, science, and the arts.

Policies and guidelines

The editorial process on Wikinews is governed by a core set of policies designed to ensure reliability and neutrality. The cornerstone is the neutral point of view policy, which requires all reporting to be fact-based and impartial. All articles must cite verifiable sources from established news organizations like CNN, The Guardian, or Agence France-Presse. The Wikinews:Original reporting policy outlines strict standards for first-hand journalism, including requirements for corroboration and transparency. Other key guidelines include the Wikinews:Style guide, which dictates writing standards, and the Wikinews:Conflict of interest policy, which prevents contributors from writing about topics where they have a personal stake. The Wikinews:Review system requires new articles to be vetted by experienced editors before publication, a process distinct from the open editing model of Wikipedia.

Community and governance

The Wikinews community is composed of international volunteers who write, edit, and review articles. Governance is largely communal, with decisions made through discussion on project talk pages and formal polls. Key administrative roles include administrators, who handle technical maintenance, and reviewers, who approve articles for publication. The community interacts on central hubs like the Wikinews:Water cooler and through IRC channels and mailing lists. While independent in its daily operations, the project falls under the ultimate stewardship of the Wikimedia Foundation board and is supported by foundation staff like the Wikimedia Legal Team. Local language editions, such as Wikinews:French and Wikinews:Spanish, operate with a degree of autonomy but align with global project principles.

Reception and impact

Wikinews has received mixed reception from the mainstream journalism community. It has been praised for its innovative, collaborative model and for providing alternative coverage of events like the 2008 United States presidential election and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). Some articles have been syndicated by outlets like USA Today and the MSNBC website. However, critics, including analysts from the Columbia Journalism Review, have questioned the project's ability to consistently produce in-depth investigative journalism compared to traditional newsrooms like The New York Times. Its impact is often seen in niche areas and citizen journalism, particularly during natural disasters or in regions with restrictive press laws. The project has also been a subject of academic study in fields related to participatory media and digital journalism.

Technical infrastructure

Wikinews runs on the MediaWiki software, the same platform that powers Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. This open-source software, originally developed for Wikipedia, allows for collaborative editing, page history tracking, and talk page discussions. The site is hosted on server infrastructure maintained by the Wikimedia Foundation across data centers in locations like Ashburn, Virginia and Dallas, Texas. Content is served under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic license, ensuring free redistribution. The technical framework supports multimedia integration, including Ogg Theora video and SVG graphics. The project utilizes various MediaWiki extensions to facilitate the review process, RSS feeds for syndication, and Wikimedia Toolforge tools for community-developed utilities.