Event description[Update] Read the digest or watch the recording of the webinar:
WIKIPEDIA: A TOOL FOR INFORMATION GATHERING AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY?
The webinar on 21 June 2013 (13.00 GMT) will addressedthe following questions:
How reliable is Wikipedia as one of the main sources of information for diplomats?
- Bence Damokos – Wikimedia Affiliations Committee
- Richard Boly – Director of eDiplomacy of the US State Department
Can Wikipedia be used effectively for public diplomacy?
- Stefano Baldi – Director of the Diplomatic Institute of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Jovan Kurbalija – Director of DiploFoundation
You can read the summary report here.
Today, Wikipedia is a main source of information. Wikipedia links appear at the top of most web searches, and it is often the first source we consult. Wikipedia articles cover topics found in general encyclopedias, along with many issues not covered in traditional reference books. Moreover, since Wikipedia is the result of the ongoing work of a community of editors gathered around the project, it often provides live coverage of events as they unfold.
In diplomacy, information has always been a key professional resource. Is Wikipedia an accurate and trustworthy source of information for diplomats? How can we determine the validity of Wikipedia articles? Considering the widespread use of Wikipedia, can it be an effective channel for public diplomacy? If so, how can diplomats contribute to improve Wikipedia articles to increase their public diplomacy value? These are some of the questions that will be addressed during this webinar.
If you are interested to know how Wikipedia can facilitate information-gathering, diplomatic reporting, and public diplomacy, and if you would like to learn how to evaluate, edit, and create Wikipedia articles in accordance with Wikipedia’s rules, DiploFoundation will have some news for you soon. Please register for updates: firstname.lastname@example.org.