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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: encyclopedia

encyclopedia stories: 8 news summaries

Wales:
Wikipedia Changes Exaggerated

Only a few posts will
be delayed for approval

Sep 30, 09 5:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - Wikipedia's editorial changes aren't so sweeping after all, says co-founder Jimmy Wales. Reports that the open-source encyclopedia would restrict edits to entries on all living people are “just completely wrong," he tells Time. Instead, the site will adopt “flagged revision”—in which edits are checked by... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Wikipedia • Jimmy Wales • editor • open source • encyclopedia • Wikimedia

(Newser) - After riding its users to popularity, Wikipedia is now moving to rein them in, the New York Times reports, by mandating editorial review for articles about living people. The feature, called “flagged revisions,” means an experienced editor will check updates to the free, user-generated online encyclopedia. The change... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Wikipedia • editor • encyclopedia • online encyclopedia • Wikimedia

 Nazis Ran a Staggering 
 20K Concentration Camps 

Decade-long study could change scholars' 'mental universe'

Jun 4, 09 11:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - A year's work on a new Holocaust encyclopedia pointed researchers to some 15,000 concentration camps they hadn’t known about, a finding that could shift the public's perception of the Holocaust, the Washington Post reports. “Instead of thinking of main death camps, people are going to understand that... More »

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Holocaust • research • Holocaust Museum • concentration camp • history • encyclopedia • Nazis

Fake Deaths May Force Changes in Wikipedia

Site considers
blocking users
from direct edits

Jan 27, 09 1:57 AM CST
(Newser) - The greatly exaggerated deaths of Sens. Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy last week on Wikipedia has sparked a push for a radical change in how the site's information is edited, Wired reports. The edits, traditionally open to all users, gave the false impression that both lawmakers had died. Founder Jimmy... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Internet • Wikipedia • Jimmy Wales • user generated content • encyclopedia

To Challenge Wiki, Britannica Will Let Users Edit

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

Jan 22, 09 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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Google • Internet • Wikipedia • search • Public Knowledge • encyclopedia • Encyclopedia Britannica

Wikipedia
Goes to Print
—in German

Publisher plans
single volume of 50K most-searched entries

Apr 24, 08 4:55 PM CDT
(Newser) - Wikipedia will soon hit bookshelves, the AP reports: German giant Bertelsmann AG is publishing a condensed print edition of the user-generated encyclopedia. The One-Volume Wikipedia Encyclopedia will contain 50,000 of the most-searched-for German entries this year—and it could be the first in an annual series. “A yearbook... More »

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Internet • Wikipedia • Germany • book • encyclopedia • Bertelsmann AG

Rowling Blasts Unauthorized Spinoff

Fan's encyclopedia violates copyright, Hogwarts spirit: author

Feb 29, 08 2:15 PM CST
(Newser) - As part of her ongoing effort to keep a fan from publishing a Harry Potter encyclopedia, J.K. Rowling is suggesting that the book would violate the wizarding world's moral and ethical standards, reports the New York Daily News. “I am very frustrated that a former fan has tried... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Harry Potter • JK Rowling • encyclopedia • Harry Potter Lexicon • Steven Vander Ark • RDR Books

Google Takes On Wikipedia

Online encyclopedia is in beta testing

Dec 14, 07 4:40 PM CST
(Newser) - The company is developing a collaborative online encyclopedia, called the "knol project," that will allow contributors to earn money by including Google ads on their pages. Google won't edit content, but will give high search ranking to entries it considers high quality, reports CNET. Users will also be... More »

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Google • Wikipedia • encyclopedia • knol • online encyclopedia

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