Andrew Lih and Andrew Phillips interview two prominent researchers of Wikipedia: Felipe Ortega and Ed Chi. Their research was cited in a widely discussed Wall Street Journal article “Volunteers Log Off as Wikipedia Ages“. We discuss the accuracy of the statistic that 49,000 editors have departed Wikipedia, and the long term prospects of researching and modeling Wikipedia’s growth and community health.
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Second half of the interview with Brion. We discuss: the history of MediaWiki “phase 3″; the API; his biggest mistake (not having SUL earlier); how to make decisions without consensus for change; improving the template interface; a new release from the usability team; LiquidThreads; problems looming in hardware and software; whether we’ve gone from innovative to ’stuck’; learning how to learn; and what he has gotten out of being a Wikimedian.
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An interview with the chief of tech at the Wikimedia Foundation before he leaves. We discuss: flagged revisions; MediaWiki’s relationship with business; his decision to move to StatusNet; the emerging role of open data standards; the relationship between community and technology; the search for his replacement(s); what the software looked like when he first arrived and how it developed. (continued in part 2).
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At Wikimania 2009 we interview Matt Halprin, the newest board member of the Wikimedia Foundation. He is a partner of the Omidyar Network, which recently gave $2 million to the Foundation. We talk about his background and views on the Foundation, and whether his seat on the board and the recent donation are tied together, and how this might be perceived by the community.
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Day 2 of Wikimania brings in old friends and new voices: Andrew Lih, Liam Wyatt, James Forrester, Phoebe Ayers, Damian Finol of Spanish Wikipedia from Venezuela talking about Spanish language sessions and outcomes; and Philippe Beaudette of the Wikimedia Foundation talking about the new Strategic Planning process.
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Day 1 wrapup of Wikimania including Richard Stallman wanders onto stage, and a rundown of some sessions related to community and volunteer organizations. With Andrew Lih, Liam Wyatt and James Forrester.
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Yes you read that right, Day 0. Andrew Lih, Liam Wyatt, James Forrester and User:Effietsanders talk about the preview to Wikimania 2009.
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The roundtable is back, where Andrew Lih, Liam Wyatt and Andrew Phillips talk about the latest Wikipedia news, including board of trustees elections, the GLAM-wiki conference in Australia, strategic review proposals, the latest research from Palo Alto research center, and the related Wikimania panel Fuzheado will host about dealing with the demographic decline of Wikipedia. Next week kicks off our marathon coverage of Wikimania 2009.
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A joint Wikipedia Weekly and Wikivoices podcast covers the recent letter sent by the UK National Portrait Gallery to User:Dcoetzee (link). The NPG is disputing Wikimedia Commons use of their photos of out-of-copyright paintings. We also discuss the controversial new Advisory Council setup by the Arbitration Committee.
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Liam Wyatt Interviews with the usability team Naoko, Parul and Trevor – the people behind the new MediaWiki skin “vector” – what they’ve set out to achieve, what they’ve done so far and what’s left to do. Also, news about the recently announced Commons usability FordFoundation grant.
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