|
→How to disclose: +code
|
replace {{request edit}} with {{edit COI}}
|
||
| (36 intermediate revisions by 18 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{essay|WP:INTERN|WP:BOSS}} |
{{essay|WP:INTERN|WP:BOSS}} |
||
If you're reading this page, you are probably an employee asked to either |
If you're reading this page, you are probably an employee asked to either: |
||
# create an article about your organization or your boss |
|||
# edit an existing article about your organization or your boss |
|||
|
|||
This essay quickly breaks down what you need to know and do. You may also refer to our [[Wikipedia:FAQ/Article subjects|FAQ for article subjects]]. |
|||
== Tell your boss it can't be done == |
== Tell your boss it can't be done == |
||
Companies love to ask their interns, PR people, and |
Companies love to ask their interns, PR people, and new employees to create Wikipedia articles about them. But companies often misunderstand the purpose and function of Wikipedia. |
||
Editing Wikipedia is no small task. Editing it while working for a company is even harder. There are a lot of [[WP:PAID|policies]] to comply with, [[Help:Introduction to editing with Wiki Markup/1|skills]] to master, and [[Help:Introduction_to_referencing_with_Wiki_Markup/1|research]] to be conducted. Not to mention most companies don't actually [[wikipedia:Notability|qualify for an article]]. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Our advice, garnered over many years of guiding paid and conflict-of-interest editors, is: it's a waste of time. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Show your boss this page or tell them that here's why you probably shouldn't be editing: |
Show your boss this page or tell them that here's why you probably shouldn't be editing: |
||
* If you're being asked to create a new article, tell |
* If you're being asked to create a new article, tell them that having an article about your company or boss is [[Wikipedia:COMPORG|not necessarily a good thing]]: you do not [[Wikipedia:Ownership of content|own or control the articles you create]]. Anyone can edit the article, and they can include negative things about your company or boss – not just positive ones. |
||
* Your company is likely not [[ |
* Your company or boss is likely not [[WP:NCORP|notable]], i.e. well known enough to be the subject of an article. If it was notable, someone would likely already have written about it. |
||
* Unless you are willing to read and understand our [[wikipedia:Five pillars|core policies]] in depth, your article is very unlikely to get published. Your time would be better spent doing more productive things for your company. |
* Unless you are willing to read and understand our [[wikipedia:Five pillars|core policies]] in depth, your article is very unlikely to get published. Your time would be better spent doing more productive things for your company. |
||
* If |
* If Wikipedia already has an article about your company or boss, [[wikipedia:CONFLICT|editing it yourself is strongly discouraged]] duetoyour conflict of interest. Instead, you are advised to [[Template:Edit COI|request an edit]]. Then, a Wikipedia volunteer editor will make the decision about whether or not to implement what you're asking. |
||
* Wikipedia is [[wikipedia:NOTPROMOTION|not for promotion]]. We don't exist to amplify your business. If you want more people to know about your company, |
* Wikipedia is [[wikipedia:NOTPROMOTION|not for promotion]]. We don't exist to amplify your business and we are not a business directory. If you want more people to know about your company, you'll have to pay an advertising agency. |
||
== If you're going to go ahead... == |
== If you're going to go ahead... == |
||
| Line 18: | Line 26: | ||
=== Paid editing disclosure === |
=== Paid editing disclosure === |
||
If you are an employee, contractor, or intern of a company, whether you are paid or not, you must disclose that relationship. '''Failing to declare paid editing is a violation of the Wikipedia Terms of Use and will result in a loss of editing privileges.''' The full text of this policy can be found at [[wikipedia:Paid-contribution disclosure|Paid-contribution disclosure]]. |
If you are an employee, contractor, or intern of a company, whether you are paid or not, you must disclose that relationship. '''Failing to declare paid editing is a violation of the Wikipedia Terms of Use and will result in a loss of editing privileges.''' The full text of this policy can be found at [[wikipedia:Paid-contribution disclosure|Paid-contribution disclosure]]. |
||
|
Why must you disclose that relationship? Wikipedia is built on transparency. All of our edits are visible to the public, so that they can see for themselves how articles develop. Failing to disclose can get you blocked from editing. If you're an unpaid intern, our TermsofUse still require you to make a paid editing declaration, because you are being compensated in some way (e.g. experience) for your edits. The same goes for volunteers, and other unpaid affiliates of an organization. |
||
Numerous companies have been exposed for covert paid editing on Wikipedia, and subsequently received widespread criticism on national media (see [[List of political editing incidents on Wikipedia|here]] for examples). Talk about a PR nightmare. Disclosing your status makes it way easier for everyone involved. It allows us to help you better, and ensures your company won't be publicly embarrassed. |
|||
====How to disclose==== |
====How to disclose==== |
||
Disclosing your status as a paid editor is |
Disclosing your status as a paid editor is very simple. Just [[Wikipedia:Userpage|create your userpage]], if you haven't already done so, by clicking the name of your account in the top right of the screen. Add to it the following text, making sure to include the double curly brackets: <code><nowiki>{{paid|employer=your employer here}}</nowiki></code>. |
||
|
|||
Make sure to publish the page afterwards. If you've already created your userpage, just add the text to the page somewhere. |
|||
===Creating a new article=== |
===Creating a new article=== |
||
If |
IfWikipedia does not yet have an article about your organization or boss, you'll need to create a draft version of it for approval by using the [[WP:Article Wizard]]. Do not try to create your article directly in the "main" article space. It'll just get deleted. Once you create a draft, experienced editors will see if your draft meets our policies, approve it if it does, and decline it (with an explanation) if it does not. |
||
Before making a draft, please do some research! Make sure that your organization meets the [[WP:NCORP|organization notability guidelines]]. The |
Before making a draft, please do some research! Make sure that your organization or boss meets the [[WP:NCORP|organization notability guidelines]] or [[WP:NBIO|person notability guidelines]]. The essence of those guidelines are: your organization or boss needs to have been written about in the independent press substantially. If you can't find at least three news articles (or other [[WP:RS|reliable sources]]) that discuss your organization or boss at length, then it is likely not notable, and we can't write about it. Your organization's own website should not be used as a source, and neither should press releases, or blogs. |
||
Don't be tempted to [[WP:BACKWARD|write the article backward]] by writing it first and then finding sources. ''First'' you should find significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of your company (see the [[WP:42|Golden Rule]] for the kinds of sources required), and only ''then'' should you write the article based on what those sources say. |
|||
===Editing an existing article=== |
===Editing an existing article=== |
||
'''Do not edit an existing article about your company directly |
'''Do not edit an existing article about your company or boss directly!''' Our policy strongly discourages such edits. Instead, make an [[WP:Edit request|edit request]] on the relevant talk page. It's simple: open the talk page of the article (found at the top left), open a new section, suggest what you want changed in a "Change X to Y" format, and add <code><nowiki>{{edit COI}}</nowiki></code> to the top of your request. Then, an experienced editor will come along to ensure the edit complies with our policies, and if it's good, implement it. You may also use the [[Wikipedia:Edit Request Wizard]] if you like. |
||
==Getting help== |
==Getting help== |
||
Be well advised: we do not handhold paid editors. If you are being paid, we expect you to put in the time to understand our policies. If you do not have the time to understand how Wikipedia works, then go back to the first section and tell your boss it cannot be done. But that doesn't mean we won't help at all. For assistance, please ask at: |
Be well advised: we do not handhold paid editors. If you are being paid, we expect you to put in the time to understand our policies. If you do not have the time to understand how Wikipedia works, then go back to the first section and tell your boss it cannot be done. But that doesn't mean we won't help at all. For assistance, please ask at: |
||
*[[WP:TH|The Teahouse]] |
*[[WP:TH|The Teahouse]] – A friendly place for new users |
||
*[[WP:AFCHD|The Articles for Creation help desk]] |
*[[WP:AFCHD|The Articles for Creation help desk]] – Deals with questions about drafts |
||
*[[Wikipedia:IRC help disclaimer|Live IRC help]] |
*[[Wikipedia:IRC help disclaimer|Live IRC help]] |
||
==See also== |
|||
*[[List of political editing incidents on Wikipedia]] |
|||
*[[Wikipedia:Public relations and marketing]] |
|||
 |
This is an essay.
It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
If you're reading this page, you are probably an employee asked to either:
This essay quickly breaks down what you need to know and do. You may also refer to our FAQ for article subjects.
Companies love to ask their interns, PR people, and new employees to create Wikipedia articles about them. But companies often misunderstand the purpose and function of Wikipedia.
Editing Wikipedia is no small task. Editing it while working for a company is even harder. There are a lot of policies to comply with, skills to master, and research to be conducted. Not to mention most companies don't actually qualify for an article.
Our advice, garnered over many years of guiding paid and conflict-of-interest editors, is: it's a waste of time.
Show your boss this page or tell them that here's why you probably shouldn't be editing:
If the above has not dissuaded you, you need to carefully follow our rules, and understand that this is not an easy task.
If you are an employee, contractor, or intern of a company, whether you are paid or not, you must disclose that relationship. Failing to declare paid editing is a violation of the Wikipedia Terms of Use and will result in a loss of editing privileges. The full text of this policy can be found at Paid-contribution disclosure.
Why must you disclose that relationship? Wikipedia is built on transparency. All of our edits are visible to the public, so that they can see for themselves how articles develop. Failing to disclose can get you blocked from editing. If you're an unpaid intern, our Terms of Use still require you to make a paid editing declaration, because you are being compensated in some way (e.g. experience) for your edits. The same goes for volunteers, and other unpaid affiliates of an organization.
Numerous companies have been exposed for covert paid editing on Wikipedia, and subsequently received widespread criticism on national media (see here for examples). Talk about a PR nightmare. Disclosing your status makes it way easier for everyone involved. It allows us to help you better, and ensures your company won't be publicly embarrassed.
Disclosing your status as a paid editor is very simple. Just create your userpage, if you haven't already done so, by clicking the name of your account in the top right of the screen. Add to it the following text, making sure to include the double curly brackets: {{paid|employer=your employer here}}.
Make sure to publish the page afterwards. If you've already created your userpage, just add the text to the page somewhere.
If Wikipedia does not yet have an article about your organization or boss, you'll need to create a draft version of it for approval by using the WP:Article Wizard. Do not try to create your article directly in the "main" article space. It'll just get deleted. Once you create a draft, experienced editors will see if your draft meets our policies, approve it if it does, and decline it (with an explanation) if it does not.
Before making a draft, please do some research! Make sure that your organization or boss meets the organization notability guidelinesorperson notability guidelines. The essence of those guidelines are: your organization or boss needs to have been written about in the independent press substantially. If you can't find at least three news articles (or other reliable sources) that discuss your organization or boss at length, then it is likely not notable, and we can't write about it. Your organization's own website should not be used as a source, and neither should press releases, or blogs.
Don't be tempted to write the article backward by writing it first and then finding sources. First you should find significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of your company (see the Golden Rule for the kinds of sources required), and only then should you write the article based on what those sources say.
Do not edit an existing article about your company or boss directly! Our policy strongly discourages such edits. Instead, make an edit request on the relevant talk page. It's simple: open the talk page of the article (found at the top left), open a new section, suggest what you want changed in a "Change X to Y" format, and add {{edit COI}} to the top of your request. Then, an experienced editor will come along to ensure the edit complies with our policies, and if it's good, implement it. You may also use the Wikipedia:Edit Request Wizard if you like.
Be well advised: we do not handhold paid editors. If you are being paid, we expect you to put in the time to understand our policies. If you do not have the time to understand how Wikipedia works, then go back to the first section and tell your boss it cannot be done. But that doesn't mean we won't help at all. For assistance, please ask at:
