To Challenge Wiki, Britannica Will Let Users Edit

But edits still have to be vetted by encyclopedia's staff

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 22, 2009 4:43 PM CST

(Newser) – The 241-year-old Encyclopedia Britannica is tired of being overshadowed on the web by Wikipedia, so it’s decided to start copying the competition’s defining feature: allowing users to edit and create content. Britannica will not be as laissez-faire as Wikipedia, the Sydney Morning Herald reports, as alterations to online entries must still be approved by a company editor.

It’s a shame Wikipedia’s so popular, Britannica president Jorge Cauz said, as it’s got “plenty of cracks” and “facts which are not always correct.” Cauz took aim at Google for supporting Wiki dominance: “If I were to be the CEO of Google I would be very displeased that the best search engine in the world continues to provide as a first link, Wikipedia.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

The logo of Encyclopedia Britannica. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

The Wikipedia logo. (Wikipedia)

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What we are trying to do is shifting to a much more proactive role for the reader where they are not only going to learn from reading the article but by modifying the article and by maybe creating their own content.
- Jorge Cauz, Britannica president

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To Challenge Wiki, Britannica Will Let Users Edit