Hi guys, Apologies for the delayed response, I don't have full access to internet these festives, and hey David thanks for putting the draft response together it covers all the points brought up by Ian.
I was thinking we can use the standard Wikimedia press release template https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_press_release_agencies?wprov=sfla1 But it definitely doesn't fit in this case. I'm however adding the following lines on top of what David has already written just to be clear where we stand as a chapter and that we exist. And if anyone doesn't object to my addition before 10pm today then I'll send this to the editors of news24, politics web and perhaps the Daily Maverick for Monday publishing. === Press release: WIKIMEDIA SOUTH AFRICA CONDEMNS THE RECENT VANDALISM THAT HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE ON THE ONLINE ENCYCLOPAEDIA WIKIPEDIA. 17 December 2017 Johannesburg - WikimediaZA, the South African chapter affiliated to the Wikimedia Foundation has noted media reports about the vandalism of some Wikipedia articles about South African politicians and business people that has been taking place on the online encyclopeadia recently. Wikimedia South Africa would like to condemn these acts of vandalism, and point out that Wikipedia....David's draft. *End.* *Boiler plate* On 15 Dec 2017 15:13, "Douglas Scott" <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello everyone, > > I also saw the same articles about Jooste and Niehause and also thought > about drafting a letter to the press mentioning the exact three things Ian > mentioned. Namely: "explain how Wikipedia works, Wikimedia ZA, Wikipedia > exists in languages besides English" as well as the need for more South > Africans to edit Wikipedia to ensure that vandalism like this is detected > and corrected sooner. > > Thank you David for starting a draft response. I am looking at it now. > > I am very busy these past few days and for the next few days so I will not > be able to send through the finished response to the media. Ian could you > or one of the other directors please send through the media response today > or tomorrow? I think it would be good to act on this ASAP as the news > cycle changes quickly. > > Regards, > > Douglas. > > On 14 December 2017 at 20:49, Helen Riding <[email protected]> wrote: > > > You might want to include the recent Markus Jooste vandalism. > > > > https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/business/2017-12- > > 08-what-wikipedia-is-saying-about-markus-jooste-its-not-pretty/ > > > > On 14 Dec 2017 8:46 PM, "David Richfield" <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > > > Thanks for this alert! > > > > > > I've started a draft response at > > > http://wikimedia.org.za/wiki/Response_to_Niehaus_vandalism . Everyone, > > > please do > > > the wiki thing and improve it as you see fit. Anyone who needs a login > > > on the Wikimedia ZA wiki, let me know. > > > > > > Bobby, in which forum do you think we should respond? > > > > > > On 14 December 2017 at 16:44, Ian Gilfillan < > [email protected]> > > > wrote: > > > > Hi > > > > This article is one of the many locally that misunderstands how > > Wikipedia > > > > works: > > > > http://www.politicsweb.co.za/news-and-analysis/carl-niehaus- > called-an- > > > embarrassment-to-the-human- > > > > > > > > It would be good as WikimediaZA to respond to these kind of things. > > > > > > > > Unfortunately I'm off very shortly and will have no internet access > for > > > > about a week, but perhaps we can work on a template and rapid > > > response/press > > > > release for these kind of situations in future. Ideally it should > > > > - explain how Wikipedia works > > > > - mention Wikimedia ZA > > > > - mention that Wikipedia exists in languages besides English > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > WikimediaZA mailing list > > > > [email protected] > > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaza > > > > To unsubscribe, send an email to WikimediaZA-unsubscribe@lists. > > > wikimedia.org > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > David Richfield > > > Nabburgerstraße 19, 81737 München > > > +49 176 72663368 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > WikimediaZA mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaza > > > To unsubscribe, send an email to WikimediaZA-unsubscribe@lists. > > > wikimedia.org > > _______________________________________________ > > WikimediaZA mailing list > > [email protected] > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaza > > To unsubscribe, send an email to WikimediaZA-unsubscribe@lists. > > wikimedia.org > > > > > > -- > Douglas Ian Scott > 司道格 > Skype: douglas0scott > South African mobile number: +27 (0)79 515 8727 > _______________________________________________ > WikimediaZA mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaza > To unsubscribe, send an email to WikimediaZA-unsubscribe@lists. > wikimedia.org _______________________________________________ WikimediaZA mailing list [email protected] https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaza To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected]
