Archive:Press releases/2008

Neeru Khosla to Become Wikimedia Advisor: 15 December 2008 Philanthropist and education pioneer joins non-profit's Advisory Board.

Wikimedia Foundation applauds IWF decision to reverse Wikipedia censorship in the United Kingdom: 9 December 2008 Removal from Internet blacklist will also allow UK Wikipedia users to resume editing.

Censorship in the United Kingdom disenfranchises tens of thousands of Wikipedia editors: 7 December 2008 Wikimedia Foundation opposes action by internet watchdog group to blacklist encyclopedia article.

Wikipedia to become more user-friendly for new volunteer writers: 3 December 2008 The Wikimedia Foundation has received a grant from the U.S.-based Stanton Foundation to make Wikipedia's writing and editing interface easier to use for first-time authors..

Wikimedia Foundation Launches Annual Campaign to Support Wikipedia: 5 November 2008 The Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization that operates Wikipedia, officially launched its Fifth Annual Giving Campaign today. The goal of the global campaign is to raise $6 million to fund the Foundation's 2008-09 operating costs, including projects aimed at encouraging new people to edit the encyclopedia, and at increasing its quality.

SOS Children UK and the Wikimedia Foundation announce the 2008/9 Wikipedia Selection for Schools: 22 October 2008 SOS Children UK, in coordination with the Wikimedia Foundation, has released a complete 2008/9 revision of the Wikipedia Selection for Schools, which is perhaps the most successful "checked content" project derived from the English Wikipedia.

Wikimedia Foundation Announces New Appointments to Board of Trustees: 17 July 2008 Earlier today the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees Vice-Chair, Jan-Bart De Vreede announced important changes to the Board, including the selection of a new Chair, and appointment of the newest community-elected member.

Wikimedians Around the World Prepare for Wikimania 2008: 9 July 2008 Next week hundreds of Wikimedia volunteers and enthusiasts will converge at the historic center of global knowledge and wisdom, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt, for the fourth annual Wikimania conference.

Board of Trustees announces appointment of new Board Treasurer: 22 April 2008 The Board of Trustees has appointed Stuart West as the new board treasurer. West brings new financial experience and skill to the Board of Trustees.

Wikipedia Hits Milestone of Ten Million Articles Across 250 Languages: 28 March 2008 Hungarian biography of 16th century painter Nicholas Hilliard has been declared the ten millionth article.

Wikimedia Foundation Receives $500K Donation: 27 March 2008 The Wikimedia Foundation announces an unrestricted donation of $500K from philanthropists Vinod and Neeru Khosla.

Sloan Foundation to support Wikipedia's quality and growth initiatives: 25 March 2008 The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation today announced it is awarding $3 million of support to the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization which operates the world's largest and most popular encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Wikimedia Foundation announces new CFOO; Heads of Business Development and Communications: 29 January 2008 The Wikimedia Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of three new staff members: Veronique Kessler, Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFOO); Kul Takanao Wadhwa, Head of Business Development; and Jay Walsh, Head of Communications.

Wikimedia Foundation and UNU-MERIT announce First Survey of Wikipedians: 24 January 2008 The Wikimedia Foundation and the Collaborative Creativity Group at UNU-MERIT [a joint research and training centre of United Nations University (UNU) and Maastricht University] are pleased to announce a collaboration to conduct the first-ever, comprehensive Wikipedia survey.

Wikipedia Invites Users to Take Part in Open, Collaborative Video Experiment: 17 January 2008 The Wikimedia Foundation, Kaltura and WikiEducator have announced a beta program to allow users to create collaborative video and other forms of rich media. Under this project, users will be invited to test new functionality that could one day enable Wikipedia articles to include collaboratively created video, audio, animations, and slideshows as well as text and images.

Wikimedia Foundation Hires Deputy Director: 9 January 2008 The Wikimedia Foundation today announced the appointment of Erik Moeller as Deputy Director, effective January 10, 2008.