Wikimedia Foundation announces $2.5 million in support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies for security of Wikipedia and organization’s other free knowledge projects
The Wikimedia Foundation is excited to announce $2.5 million in support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies that will help to ensure the security of Wikipedia, as well as the organization’s other sites and global community of volunteers. At a time of increased cybersecurity threats, this philanthropic investment from the organization of craigslist founder Craig Newmark will….
Malicious attack on Wikipedia—What we know, and what we’re doing
Today, Wikipedia was hit with a malicious attack that has taken it offline in several countries for intermittent periods. The attack is ongoing and our Site Reliability Engineering team is working hard to stop it and restore access to the site. As one of the world’s most popular sites, Wikipedia sometimes attracts “bad faith” actors.….
Your weekly photo from the world’s free media repository: 6 September
Wikipedia tells us that “the Umeda Sky Building is the nineteenth-tallest building in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, and one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. It consists of two 40-story towers that connect at their two uppermost stories, with bridges and an escalator crossing the wide atrium-like space in the center.” This photo comes to us….
The anatomy of search: In search of…
A galloping overview As we have done before, let’s get a bird’s-eye view of the parts of the search process: text comes in and gets processed and stored in a database (called an index); a user submits a query; documents that match the query are retrieved from the index, ranked based on how well they….
Your weekly photo from the world’s free media repository: 30 August
The ruins of Salamis, the ancient Greek city-state on the east coast of Cyprus, have been the subject of archaeological excavations since the late nineteenth century. Here, the columns of the city’s public baths or gymnasium stand in repose. This photo comes to us from Wikimedia Commons, the freely licensed media repository whose holdings are….
Wikimedia Foundation welcomes Robyn Arville as Chief Talent and Culture Officer
The Wikimedia Foundation is excited to announce the appointment of Robyn Arville as Chief Talent and Culture Officer (CTCO). Robyn brings 20 years of experience in human resources to the Foundation, most recently as the Head of People and Culture at the Public Library of Science (PLOS), where she worked to develop PLOS’s people strategy….
Wikimedia panelists discuss EU copyright reform and its effects
Earlier this year, the European Parliament voted to pass a new copyright directive that will take effect across the European Union (EU) and likely affect all online activities. At Wikimedia’s 18 July summer legal fellow panel, “EU Copyright & You,” technology law scholars and practitioners discussed the directive itself, events leading up to its passing, and….
Idil Keysan illustrates Wikipedia, “the brain of the world,” in a set of gifs
Idil Keysan is a Turkish artist and illustrator known for her playful and relatable animated work on Giphy, the GIF-hosting platform. Idil’s keen understanding of what’s trending and how audiences interact with gifs have helped her work get over two billion views on the website. Her fun, charming, brightly colored illustrations are inspired by “famous….
Your weekly photo from the world’s free media repository: 23 August
Jack Delano was an American photographer best known for his work with the US government’s photography program within the Farm Security Administration. The image above was captured in December 1942, in the midst of the Second World War, and it shows Chicago and Northwestern Railroad steam locomotives at rest in a Chicago roundhouse before their….
Meet Emna Mizouni, the newly minted 2019 Wikimedian of the Year
Today, Tunisian free knowledge advocate Emna Mizouni was named the 2019 Wikimedian of the Year. The award was given in recognition of her inspiring leadership within the global Wikimedia movement, especially within Arab and African communities, and for her tireless work in raising awareness of Tunisia’s extensive history and culture. Emna is a life-long resident….
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