2020 was an unprecedented year for the Wikimedia Foundation, with events such as the launch of the COVID-19 response and the growth of community initiatives like the Wikipedia Love Campaign. Wikimedia’s mission to bring free knowledge to the world faced drastic changes, while internal and external changes required new approaches and initiatives.
This year, 2021, will be a year of even more transformation for the Wikimedia Foundation. The foundation is investing in strengthening its systems and capabilities in order to continue its successful mission, while also evolving to meet the evolving needs of the world.
The foundation will focus on four main areas: global strategic initiatives, community and contributor engagement, technology and infrastructure, and an increased commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. These four areas are essential for a successful transformation this year and beyond.
Global strategic initiatives include efforts in increasing access to Wikimedia projects, expanding the reach and impact of the Wikimedia Foundation’s work, and engaging with governments, institutions, and other organizations to achieve Wikimedia’s mission. Community and contributor engagement initiatives focus on engaging with new and existing contributors, increasing contributions in areas such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and language, and growing existing partnerships to increase the engagement and impact of Wikimedia projects.
In technology and infrastructure, the foundation is investing in modernizing and improving its technical capabilities in order to support Wikimedia’s mission. This includes leveraging cloud infrastructure and open source projects such as MediaWiki and Kubernetes, as well as investing in search engine optimization and data privacy and security.
Finally, the foundation is making a greater commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion which will be focused on creating a more diverse and equitable organization, creating a safe and inclusive environment for all its employees and contributors, and committing to data-driven results to measure its work.
These efforts form a strong foundation for a year of transformation for the Wikimedia Foundation and will ensure that the organization can continue to bring free knowledge to the world. As we head into 2021, the Wikimedia Foundation is preparing for a transformative year and is looking to invest in initiatives and systems that will strengthen its mission and prepare it for the future.
The Wikimedia Foundation’s 2021 Agreement with Cohen Wired
The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit organization behind Wikipedia, recently announced a new agreement with Cohen Wired, an online media and publishing company, to develop and expand Wikipedia’s content offering. This agreement lays down the foundation for a strategic partnership that will benefit both parties in the coming years.
Under the agreement, Cohen Wired will provide the Wikimedia Foundation with comprehensive news coverage, focusing mainly on current events, related to Wikipedia content. This coverage will be featured on the Foundation’s website and also shared through its social media channels. Moreover, Cohen Wired will produce exclusive content for the Foundation, such as feature stories, data journalism, infographics and multimedia content.
The agreement also outlines a number of other activities that the two organizations will collaborate on, such as joint events, training opportunities, and editorial support. This agreement is a great step forward in the Foundation’s goal of providing access to accurate, timely, and comprehensive information to people around the world.
The agreement with Cohen Wired furthers the Foundation’s mission of creating an accessible and useful open knowledge resource. We are excited to explore this collaborative project and continue to make knowledge and education accessible to people everywhere.
Bridging the Digital Divide Through the Wikimedia Foundation’s Initiatives
In today’s increasingly digital world, access to information and knowledge is a critical factor in enabling people to realize their potential and creating opportunities. However, while the digital world offers great benefits, there are still substantial disparities in access to and use of technology, which is known as the digital divide.
The Wikimedia Foundation is an organization that works to bridge the digital divide through its initiatives and programs. They recognize that digital access, skills and resources are key to creating equitable and inclusive digital experiences.
Through their Wiki Education Program, Wikimedia has been partnering with governments, universities, and non-profits to provide high-quality digital literacy and open access education. This initiative trains cross-disciplinary teachers, develops curriculum and resources tailored to local contexts and cultures, implements instructional methodologies founded in open source pedagogy, and builds bridges of knowledge between the Wikimedia communities.
The organization also provides free access to knowledge through their projects like Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wiktionary. Through regular and part-time volunteers, they curate, arrange, and promote free educational resources and content to diverse users.
Finally, the Wikimedia Foundation also runs an open-access publishing platform, Wikibooks, and an OpenStreetMap project that creates community maps of areas and landmarks around the world.
By leveraging new technologies and through creative collaboration with various stakeholders, the Wikimedia Foundation is helping to build a more equitable and connected world while providing access to rich learning experiences. Through its initiatives, the organization continues to play a significant role in bridging the digital divide.
