Wikimedia Conference 2011/Documentation/Public outreach experiences

Public outreach experiences edit

Goal: Share experiences on outreach events that chapters' have held and the lessons learned

Description:

An important part of a chapter's activity is reaching out to the public, educating them about Wikipedia and encouraging them to get involved. This session focused on sharing experiences regarding the 10th anniversary of Wikipedia.

Chile edit

3 meetings in 3 cities, press was invited.
Conference in July 2011 at the 10th anniversary of the Spanish Wikipedia.

Ukraine edit

Scientists were invited to a press conference (e.g. members of the Academy of Science). Motto: "We don't edit Wikipedia, but we think it is great thing!"

WikiMeeting: Miss Ukrainian Wikipedian was elected. Only one unknown girl showed up. Afterwards she became a highly active Wikipedian in the Ukraine. National TV was reporting.

WikiTraining by one professor etc.

Israel edit

"Third Age" application: Retired people not only have the time to contribute but they have valuable knowledge.
- Workshop with Navy pensionists with resulting articles.
An annual Wiki Academy

Netherlands edit

event regarding cultural heritage on Saturday, 15th of January. Images were donated to Wikipedia.
Hackathon: tool development...
Translations on Europeana website
GLAM mini-conference with 100-200 guests, closed with a donation of 50.000 images from the national museum
great press coverage

Portugal edit

Conference in Lisbon, sponsored by the Technical University. Screening of Truth in Numbers. At the end tehre was a birthday cake.
Press coverage: TV, newspapers.

Hungary edit

There were some problems with the academic world before the 10th birthday, so public outreach focused primarily to the academics. A well-known academic Hungarian did a keynote speech (of sorts) at a conference. Remarkable: There is greater interest regarding Wikipedia in the academic world than the Hungarian chapter had thought.

Italy edit

4 events in 3 cities, a party, a conference, a visit to a museums plus an information booth in a shopping mall.
As in Hungary it was not so important to reach the press, since press coverage is good.

Kenya edit

A week of activites, directed by Ting Chen. The first public project in Kenya.
Public lecture at two universities about Wikipedia (iHub).
Launch of the Kenyan school project (party).

Australia edit

Party funded by the chapter in five cities. Cakes, coffee etc.
Good public knowledge of the project installed in Australia.
Very located events (120 people at the four events). Some people were sort of reactivated/reenergised for the project.

UK edit

Jimmy Wales was there, which meant lots of media interest.
Negative media reactions were turned around.
Public lecture with Jimmy Wales.
Editathon at a library (20 Wikipedians at the end of the day).

Czech Republic edit

Classical concert at Prague, the recording of which some day will be released on Commons.

Serbia edit

Since there are weekly meetings, there was just a meeting of 20 core people (cake and stuff). The venue wasn't available.
There a plans for very big conference in autumn.
press coverage due to press release, interviews with radio broadcasters.

Finland edit

Press covered the event by itself.