Just days after Encyclopedia Britannica’s president attacked Wikipedia for its inaccuracies, the online information service will now amend its model to ensure edits to its articles are more truthful. Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has proposed changes to the site after articles on Senators Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd were edited incorrectly. The proposal allows only “trusted” Wikipedia users to approve content. Currently, any user may change articles.
The proposals would mean anonymous or new users could not approve content unless a trusted user signs off on the changes.
Wales says that Wikipedia, one of the most popular internet sites, is setting higher standards than most news sites, and issued a challenge on the site’s forums for alternatives.
“Those who are in the minority who are opposed to this are invited to make an alternative proposal within the next seven days, to be voted upon for the next 14 days after that.”
James was the editor and publisher of SmartCompany and LeadingCompany for five years. He is now the Australian Financial Review‘s companies & markets editor, and a former BRW editor.
