Crowdsourced Stories: Charles Guiteau and the Best Wikipedia Entry Around

By Shane Ryan at 1:38 PM on March 19, 2012

The assassination of a president seems like an unlikely source of comedy, but two recent events reminded me that there is always an exception to prove every rule. The first of these circumstances was Wikipedia’s day of blackout back on Jan. 18, protesting the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Like many other computer-bound Americans, I didn’t quite realize how much I used Wikipedia until it was gone, and my frustrated attempts to reach the site inevitably made me think of my favorite Wiki entry of all time. The thought slipped away, but returned with a purpose two weeks later when...  read more

Found in: Columns

Wikipedia Co-Founder Considering Blackout in Response to Anti-Piracy Act

By Adam Vitcavage at 11:22 AM on December 13, 2011

Wikipedia might blackout in response to the Stop Online Piracy Act. At least according to co-founder Jimmy Wales, who posted the notion on his Talk Page this morning.  read more

Found in: Culture, News

Justin Bieber Fans Attack Esperanza Spalding's Wikipedia Page

By China Reevers at 2:44 PM on February 14, 2011

The Grammys provided plenty of surprises last night, one of which being Esperanza Spalding taking home the award for Best New Artist. The contemporary jazz singer is relatively unknown when compared to the other artists nominated for the category, namely Justin Bieber, and many jilted fans wanted to let Spalding know how they felt....  read more

Found in: Music, News

Did Wired Editor Chris Anderson Plagiarize Wikipedia for His Upcoming Book?

By Ani Vrabel at 12:53 PM on June 24, 2009

One of the very first things high school students learn nowadays is that Wikipedia should never, ever be considered a legitimate source for research. Maybe Wired editor-in-chief Chris Anderson was in high school before Wikipedia was a big thing, but at some point down the line, he should have gotten the speech about how plagiarism is wrong. If he did, according to some recent reports, it seems like it maybe didn't stick. Or, maybe he just got really caught up in the topic he was writing on. In his forthcoming book, Free: The Future of Radical Price, about the business...  read more

Found in: Books, News

Wikipedia trounces Microsoft's Encarta Encyclopedia to death

By Matt Goodlett at 11:29 AM on April 8, 2009

"F*%$! accuracy!" So seems to say the world in our high-speed, internet-crazed culture where the free, web-based, cooperative encyclopedia Wikipedia has just dealt the death blow to Encarta Encyclopedia. Maybe you recall your professors telling you that Wikipedia is not an official source? Or maybe you work for a magazine that does not verify its facts based on Wiki's word? ...  read more

Found in: Books, News