Wikimedia Foundation

How can you recognize someone's special contributions to the free knowledge movement? In 2003, Wikimedia communities began awarding contributors with "barnstars", badges of appreciation inspired by the barn‑raising tradition. The star‑shaped symbol celebrates collaboration and acknowledges the dedication of volunteers who build and maintain free knowledge. New barnstars are being created all the time, so if there's a Wikimedian who deserves recognition for something new, feel free to make it happen. If someone’s work inspires you, don’t hesitate to gift them a barnstar – it’s one of the ways we nurture gratitude within our movement. See the full list of barnstars ➡️ https://w.wiki/u9d

In 2014, while studying at university, Nitesh Gill made her first Wikipedia edit as part of a class assignment. She soon discovered that editing combined her love for language and sharing knowledge. That curiosity turned into a passion: she took on the #100wikidays challenge, writing one article every day for 100 days. Then, she started aiming for 500 articles. Her dedication helped make Punjabi Wikipedia more vibrant, especially by creating more content about women. Through Nitesh's writing, Punjabi Wikipedia now has more biographies of women than of men, narrowing the gender gap. Nitesh doesn’t just write; she leads. She helped organize the Punjabi Wikimedians User Group, kept the community connected through regular online meetings during the pandemic, and mentors new volunteers. Nitesh is also responsible for the She Leads Circle Calls initiative, launched in August to create a safe, welcoming, and motivating space by centering conversations with women leaders as speakers. She is proudest of creating articles about women’s achievements and using her platform to encourage others. Outside Wikipedia, she enjoys web series, loves dogs, and is an enthusiastic traveler. Nitesh’s story shows how one person’s sustained effort can amplify voices and build a more balanced record of knowledge. Her 2025 Wikimedian of the Year Honorable Mention award is a testament to these contributions.

Submissions for the Open the Knowledge Journalism Awards have been extended to March 22 🏆 Presented by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation, the Awards recognize African journalists whose reporting helps close knowledge gaps about Africa on Wikipedia. Learn more about the Awards’ criteria, the $2,000 prize, and get your application ready ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dPG2QnEZ

Since 2010, the share of women editors on Wikipedia has doubled – and women's biographies have nearly doubled too. That's not an accident. It's the result of thousands of volunteers deciding that the gender gap in coverage of notable people wasn't acceptable. Projects like Women in Red, Art+Feminism, WikiGap, Les sans pagEs, Editatona, WikiDonne, and many more have hosted events worldwide, creating new articles and inviting more people to edit. Together, they're making Wikipedia more reflective of the people and stories that shape our world. Find out how the community is continuing to close the gaps ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d3rnXmNu

Remembering a milestone moment for free knowledge ⬇️💫 In December, we were invited to speak at the United Nations headquarters about Wikipedia’s role in global digital governance. That was our first time speaking at the UN General Assembly hall. It happened during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which guides governments, companies, and civil society in developing internet policy toward a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented internet. Our Public Policy Director, Jan Gerlach, delivered the Foundation’s remarks, emphasizing that community-led, public interest projects built across languages and borders are essential to an open, reliable, and resilient web. Watch Gerlach’s speech and read the transcript ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dJfn6jge

Look what just arrived at our office 🏆 The Webby Awards has recognized Wikipedia as one of the most iconic companies in Internet history. We're grateful to be celebrated together with other influential companies and organizations that drive creativity, connection, and culture in the digital world. We share the Webby 30 trophy with the Wikimedia community – the volunteers, editors, donors, and readers who have supported Wikipedia for 25 years. Thank you!

With Wikipedia celebrating its 25th birthday, it's clear that the Wikimedia movement grows stronger each year. Here are some of the other big milestones we've kept track of along the way. The Meta-Wiki page "List of Wikimedia birthdays" provides a monthly list of when affiliates and major projects with over 100,000 content pages recognize their birthdays. Some projects celebrate on the day they launched; others mark milestones such as reaching a number of articles. Contributors can add missing entries by providing verification links. Sharing and enhancing this list helps show how the movement has grown across languages and invites everyone to take part in the celebration. See all of the celebrations ➡️ https://w.wiki/HRYJ

Every editor starts somewhere. Wikipedia wants the first step to be easy. Wikipedia's openness works because anyone can learn how to contribute. The Help:Directory is a collection of how-to pages and tutorials that guide volunteers through everything from creating categories to adding references. Examples include pages on editing basics, viewing differences between revisions, finding sources, managing files, adding footnotes, using infoboxes, creating lists, and linking articles. The directory also offers guidance on signing up, navigating the site, and using tools for mobile access. Whether you are new to editing or looking to sharpen your skills, the Help:Directory is digital mentorship at your fingertips. Explore the Help:Directory ➡️ https://w.wiki/EEDG

After sharing and compiling reliable worldwide data for over 60 years, "The World Factbook" has bid a bittersweet farewell earlier this month. A referenced source produced by the United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) since 1962, the Factbook contained almanac-style information about the countries of the world. As a work of the US government, the Factbook was in the public domain. It was frequently used as a resource for academic research papers and news articles. On Wikipedia, the Factbook has served as a reference work for many years, helping with verifiable information about geography, demographics, communications, and more. The Factbook was available in website and downloadable formats, but all versions were removed from the CIA's website immediately after its discontinuation. Take a moment to remember the "The World Factbook" ➡️ https://w.wiki/8M5E

When our information sources narrow, our understanding does too. An echo chamber is an environment where people encounter information or opinions that reflect and reinforce their existing beliefs. In the context of news and social media, these closed systems circulate the same ideas, insulating participants from opposing views. Open knowledge projects like Wikipedia counter this by requiring verifiable sources and encouraging contributors from diverse backgrounds. Curiosity and collaboration help break out of echo chambers and broaden our perspectives. Escape the echo chamber ➡️ https://w.wiki/7YKt