Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Newsroom/Submissions

"WP:OP-ED" redirects here. For the guideline on not editorializing in article content, see MOS:OP-ED. For the policy on op-eds and original research, see WP:NOROPED. For the guideline on citing op-eds as sources, see WP:NEWSOPED.

Submission desk

Please propose Signpost stories you want to write (or have already begun writing). Submitted stories are published subject to the approval of the Editor-in-Chief, JPxG. We value the involvement of Wikipedians, and appreciate your submissions. If you have ideas or questions that don't fit neatly into this framework, don't hesitate to address us on our user talk pages, by email, or as a last resort, on the general Signpost talk page.

The Signpost's content guidelines may be useful to aspiring writers; take note, especially, of the statement of purpose section. We encourage you to contact us early in the process of developing a story. Different writers have varying levels of interest in editorial input, and we pride ourselves on finding the right balance with each writer; but in most cases, a brief discussion early on can help all parties shape our expectations, and can help produce a strong finished piece. We aim to support Wikimedians wishing to share news with their peers, and look forward to working with you.

Submission

• Submission: User:Schierbecker/Wikiality
• Column: Humour
• Author: Schierbecker
• Discussion:
  

On the perils of believing everything you read online. This is partially inspired by the Stephen Colbert Wikiality bit and also a short story by B. J. Novak. Written with quite a bit of assistance from ChatGPT.

Submission

• Submission: Invisible in the Hyperlink Network https://medium.com/p/90fbbaf7d182
• Column: TDB
• Author: OpenSexism
• Discussion:
  This piece is about the Wednesday Index, which has used PAC’s Wikidata tool to measure the gender diversity in the biographies linked from a set of 26 English Wikipedia pages — from ‘Reality’ to ‘Universe’, ‘Science’ to ‘Justice’ —for the past two years to get a sense for both the extent of citation bias on Wikipedia and how quickly it changes. In addition to data visualizations and discussion, the piece links to related research and the two previous posts about the Index. After I published this piece on Medium, I was referred to the Signpost, as it has a large audience in the Wikipedia community. I read the submission guidelines and understand that you prefer to work with writers earlier in the writing process, but I wanted to touch base to see if there was a place for the work in your publication. OpenSexism (talk) 21:41, 7 November 2023 (UTC)

Crossword 2

• Submission: User:Cremastra/Crossword2
• Column: Crossword
• Author: Cremastra
• Discussion:
  Crossword proposal 🎄Cremastra 🎄 (talk) 18:05, 27 December 2023 (UTC)

@Cremastra: This looks good, probably do with being a bit bigger. If you wanna do that, epic, otherwise I will try and throw something together. jp×g🗯️ 01:16, 19 May 2024 (UTC)

Yeah, I'll expand it over the coming days. Cremastra (talk) 21:30, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

WikiProject report with a focus on active Wiki Fixup Projects

• Submission: User:Kazamzam/sandbox/Wiki Fixup Projects
• Column: WikiProject report
• Author: Kazamzam
• Discussion:
  This piece is about the efforts, obstacles, struggles, and successes of editors working on projects like WP:ORPHAN and WP:URA. Kazamzam (talk) 02:02, 5 January 2024 (UTC)

@Kazamzam I'd be curious about what kind of events these projects work on, e.g. drives, and why do individuals affiliate with the projects, when many people engage in these activities uncoordinated? I like your focus/question on bots for example. Choosing multiple projects to profile is atypical, so clarity why you choose the projects you did, would make sense, for example why not copyrighters guild, NPP, AfC (other than fact they're active?) ~ 🦝 Shushugah (he/him • talk) 12:43, 7 January 2024 (UTC)

@Kazamzam also check out the archive for past inspiration, specifically Article rescue squadron. ~ 🦝 Shushugah (he/him • talk) 21:41, 7 January 2024 (UTC)

• @Kazamzam: This looks like a good outline; if you'd like to flesh it out more I would be happy to run it. Let us know (here or at the Newsroom) if you'd like any support with anything. jp×g🗯️ 01:16, 19 May 2024 (UTC)

Progress on the plan: How the Wikimedia Foundation has advanced on its Annual Plan goals

• Submission: User:ELappen_(WMF)/Sandbox/AP_progress_post
• Column: News from the WMF
• Author: ELappen (WMF) on behalf of the Foundation's Annual Planning group
• Discussion:
  This piece outlines the progress the Foundation has made so far towards its Annual Plan for fiscal year 2023-2024. By sharing progress reports, we are hoping to give Signpost readers more insight into how work is advancing and allow for more conversations throughout the year. ELappen (WMF) (talk) 20:29, 31 January 2024 (UTC)

Hey JPxG first-time submission, just checking whether there's anything else I need to do in order for this piece to be considered for the next issue. Thanks so much! --ELappen (WMF) (talk) 20:24, 8 February 2024 (UTC)

@ELappen (WMF): Sorry about the delay -- I am happy to run this in the next issue if it is up-to-date, or can be made so (I would be glad to help in this if possible). Is this still extant? jp×g🗯️ 03:58, 19 May 2024 (UTC)

@JPxG: Thanks for this. I'm thinking about how to best update this content. I'll either update this draft directly or propose something a bit different. Will let you know here soon. --ELappen (WMF) (talk) 22:08, 21 May 2024 (UTC)

@JPxG: I've used a more recent update to go with a list rather than a long-form post. The new draft is here. Let me know what you think about this approach. --ELappen (WMF) (talk) 00:16, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

New Page Patrol receives a much-needed software upgrade

• Submission: User:Samwalton9 (WMF)/NPP Signpost article
• Column: TDB
• Author: Samwalton9 (WMF), Novem Linguae
• Discussion:
  This piece is about new page patrol requesting the WMF help repair its PageTriage software. There are several interesting parts to this, including the process of lobbying the WMF, and the collaboration that ended up happening between WMF and volunteer software engineers. –Novem Linguae (talk) 18:36, 15 February 2024 (UTC)

@Novem Linguae and Samwalton9 (WMF): Sorry about the delay -- I've moved this to Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Next issue/Technology report, should go out on the 31st. Thank you for submitting this; if you want to go over and make sure everything is still up to date I would appreciate it. jp×g🗯️ 02:11, 19 May 2024 (UTC)

Thanks @JPxG! Will do. Samwalton9 (WMF) (talk) 10:05, 20 May 2024 (UTC)

Wikimedia Foundation publishes its Form 990 for fiscal year 2022-2023

• Submission: User:ELappen_(WMF)/Signpost draft
• Column: News from the WMF
• Author: ELappen (WMF) on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation
• Discussion: This short piece covers the highlights of the Foundation's fiscal year 2022-2023 Form 990 and directs the reader on where to learn more.

ELappen (WMF) (talk) 19:44, 14 May 2024 (UTC)

This is at News and notes for the next issue. ☆ Bri (talk) 00:41, 22 May 2024 (UTC)

Anti-trans misinformation on Wikipedia

• Submission: User:Your Friendly Neighborhood Sociologist/Anti-trans misinformation on Wikipedia
• Column: TDB
• Author: Your Friendly Neighborhood Sociologist
• Discussion:
  I would like to write a piece analyzing the use of Wikipedia to spread anti-trans FRINGE viewpoints, particularly in medical articles. I'd note the Sexology case and Cantor's contributions in general as we're still cleaning up his mess a decade later. I have a bit of a draft of that on my computer from when I ended up on a research tangent while writing WP:NQP (the table on how we got to GENSEX). I'd like to tie it into other cases of weaponizing Wikipedia to promote anti-trans misinformation, such as User:A Wider Lens and general efforts by Genspect and co to subvert Wikipedia. Your Friendly Neighborhood Sociologist ⚧ Ⓐ (talk) 16:10, 23 May 2024 (UTC)

  I think chances of getting published will be higher if there is a written draft available to evaluate. –Novem Linguae (talk) 04:45, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

  Just wanted to give a heads up that there is now a written draft. Your Friendly Neighborhood Sociologist ⚧ Ⓐ (talk) 15:47, 25 May 2024 (UTC)

@Novem Linguae, @JPxG I reworked the submission per discussion with @Bluerasberry in the Signpost Discord so now it focuses on WP:ARBSEX, the discussions of modern issues would be in part 2. I'm hoping it can go under Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Next issue/Disinformation report. Your Friendly Neighborhood Sociologist ⚧ Ⓐ (talk) 18:13, 31 May 2024 (UTC)

On editing Wikisource

• Submission: User:Cremastra/Signpost draft
• Column: TDB
• Author: Cremastra, Duckmather, WeatherWriter
• Discussion:
  This piece is about editing Wikisource, and lightly encouraging other Wikipedians to do so. Cremastra (talk) 21:29, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

Submission

• Submission:
• Column: Book review
• Author: Sgerbic
• Discussion:
  

I have written a review of Stephen Harrisons new book "The Editors" and would like to submit for publication here in The Signpost. This is my first attempt to submit to the newsletter and if I am doing this incorrectly I apologize.Sgerbic (talk) 15:10, 28 May 2024 (UTC)

@Sgerbic. Do you have a link to the draft that you'd like to include here? –Novem Linguae (talk) 16:58, 28 May 2024 (UTC)

No, I have it saved in a word doc, can I email it to someone? Sgerbic (talk) 05:21, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

A good spot for it might be your userspace. You can create any page you want if you prefix it with User:Sgerbic/. So for example, User:Sgerbic/Book review of The Editors. See above for more examples :) –Novem Linguae (talk) 07:46, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

Submission

• Submission: User:Svampesky/The Signpost drafts/Kalloor
• Column: Disinformation report, perhaps?
• Author: Svampesky
• Discussion:
  

Discussion on the recent possible-hoax Kalloor. Spoke briefly to JPxG over email about it and they gave me advice. I've also talked about original information on Wikipedia. The article was insignificant, so possibly a good chance to have a discussion without a heated political debate? Based the writing style around other Signpost articles. Svampesky (talk) 17:16, 30 May 2024 (UTC)