AWA Francophone Monthly Meetup : Introduction to Wikinews

On July 9, 2024, Code for Africa’s African Wikipedia Alliance (AWA), hosted its monthly webinar for the Anglophone community titled “Introduction to Wikinews.” The online meetup was facilitated by Mayéna Stephanie Kanakatom, a Wikimedian from the Wikimedia Togo community and a volunteer with the @pprendre (Learning Network). The session was moderated by Bukola James, the Community Coordinator of AWA. Eleven participants attended, including project leads and volunteer Wikimedians from Burundi, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Togo. The webinar provided participants with a foundational understanding of  Wikinews, covering its objectives, contribution rules, and journalistic writing techniques. Participants were also trained on the technical aspects of publishing on Wikinews, including text editing, adding media, and using the platform’s tools.

Key Highlights

The webinar, facilitated by Mayéna Stephanie, began with an overview of the learning objectives, which included understanding the basics of Wikinews, learning to write articles, mastering the technical aspects of the platform, and fostering a sense of community. She explained that Wikinews is a collaborative online media project launched in 2004 by the Wikimedia Foundation, the same organisation behind Wikipedia. Wikinews aims to provide free, unbiased news reporting, written and edited by volunteers from around the world. Unlike Wikipedia, which focuses on established facts, Wikinews allows contributors to write original articles based on verifiable sources, enabling more dynamic and responsive news coverage.

Mayéna Stephanie also discussed the rules and guidelines of Wikinews, emphasising that while they are similar to those of Wikipedia, there are some differences due to its nature as a news platform. Key rules include:

• Neutrality: Articles must be written without bias or personal opinion, presenting facts in a balanced and impartial manner.
• Sources: All articles must be based on verifiable and reliable sources, allowing readers to check the accuracy of the information.
• Originality: Articles should be original, offering new content or in-depth analysis rather than duplicating existing material.
• Relevance: Topics should be relevant and of general interest, with a focus on current news and events.
• Objective Reporting: Contributors must set aside personal prejudices to provide impartial and balanced coverage.
• Respect for Copyright: Only content that is free of copyright or for which the necessary permissions have been obtained should be used.
• Collaboration: As a collaborative project, contributors should be willing to work together and accept contributions from others in a cooperative spirit.

The session continued with a practical guide on how to contribute to Wikinews, following a step-by-step approach:

1. Create an Account: Start by creating an account on Wikinews, which allows you to track your contributions and receive notifications.
2. Familiarise Yourself with Rules and Policies: Read the Wikinews guidelines, particularly those concerning neutrality, verifiability, and content licensing.
3. Choose a News Topic: Select a recent and relevant news topic, as Wikinews focuses on current events.
4. Write an Article: Use a clear and concise journalistic style, relying on reliable sources. Ensure that your article is verifiable by including links to sources.
5. Add Media: Upload relevant images, videos, or sounds to Wikimedia Commons and insert them into your article, ensuring they comply with free licensing rules.
6. Proofread and Edit: Review your article to correct errors and improve clarity, ensuring it adheres to neutrality and verifiability standards.
7. Submit the Article: Once satisfied, submit your article for publication. Other contributors can review and provide feedback before final publication.
8. Engage with the Community: Participate in discussions on article talk pages or community forums to exchange ideas and receive constructive feedback.
9. Track Your Contributions: Use your profile page to monitor your contributions and see community feedback on your articles.

The session concluded with a hands-on exercise, where participants practised contributing to Wikinews by publishing a new story on the “Niger: First Summit of the Sahel States Alliance (SSA) in Niamey.” 

Conclusion

The session wrapped up with an interactive Q&A segment, where participants asked questions and gained further clarity on the topics discussed. Mayéna Stephanie encouraged participants to actively engage with the Wikinews platform, emphasising the importance of contributing to its content and community. She urged attendees to apply the knowledge gained by exploring and editing Wikinews, thus enriching the platform with diverse perspectives and accurate information. This insightful webinar not only equipped participants with the tools and understanding needed to contribute effectively to Wikinews but also fostered a sense of collaboration and community among Wikimedians. Participants left with a solid foundation for future contributions and were encouraged to join upcoming webinars to continue their learning journey.

For those interested in revisiting the session or those who might have missed it, the recorded version is available on the community programmes page. Ensure you are registered for the upcoming CfA WiR Bi-weekly webinar and immerse in our vibrant community. To stay abreast of our initiatives, complete this form, and let’s shape the future together!