Readability Enhancement and Diversity Improvement on Arabic Wikipedia and Wikiquote

As Wikimedia continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, with tens of new articles being added every month, the need for sustained maintenance and quality assurance has become more pressing than ever. Recognizing this, we initiated the Readability Development: Wikipedia and Wikiquote as Models project to address both the maintenance of existing content and the enhancement of underrepresented areas in Wikimedia projects.

Our project comprised two distinct competitions:

Wikipedia Readability Enhancement Competition (Aug 03, 2024 – 31 Aug, 2024)

To celebrate Arabic Wikipedia’s 20th anniversary, we launched a unique content maintenance competition. Unlike traditional contests, this initiative focused on improving and maintaining existing articles, targeting specific categories that required attention, such as orphaned articles, those lacking infoboxes, or needing citations.

We began with a preparatory phase, crafting a detailed plan that defined competition rules, participant criteria, lists of eligible articles, and help page. During the four-week execution phase, contributions were tracked using hashtags and categories, followed by an evaluation period. To promote the competition, we utilized Wikipedia’s Village Pump, central banner, and social media channels. The initiative successfully attracted a diverse group of participants, including newcomers, who developed essential editorial skills and deepened their understanding of Wikipedia’s broader mission. 

The competition drew approximately 1400 maintained articles and significant participation by introducing new approaches and dividing suggested articles into interest-based groups.

This structure opened doors for further unconventional contests.

#SheSaid Wikiquote Campaign for the Maghreb Region (06 Sep, 2024 – 18 Oct, 2024)

In collaboration with the global #SheSaid campaign, we organized a competition to revive Arabic Wikiquote, focusing on bridging both gender and geographic content gaps.

The campaign successfully increased contributions to Arabic Wikiquote and highlighted the potential for similar projects in underdeveloped Wikimedia platforms.

Key Learnings and Recommendations

1. Defining article categories early on ensured smoother execution and encouraged participants to engage based on their interests.
2. Removing eligibility restrictions allowed newcomers to join, leading to significant skill-building.
3. Integrating Arabic Wikiquote with the #SheSaid campaign showcased how broader initiatives can address gaps across Wikimedia projects.
4. Engaging experienced editors and administrators for support during peak periods was instrumental in managing the high volume of contributions effectively.

By documenting lessons learned and sharing them on platforms like Diff, we hope to inspire similar projects and foster a culture of continuous improvement in the Wikimedia movement.