I joined wikipedia today as an editor and I know it seems to be a poor man's encyclopedia but this site and the knowledge of folks like Craig, Chris and others could make the Portland Radio station portion of Wiki some of the most detailed on the web.

I was wondering if you guys have ever thought about putting your expertise to this venture and maybe helping me or adding yourself your great and vast knowledge?

I just was able to add the note from R&R about Buckhead not being renewed, but to add things like the morning zoo, translator history and more would make the thing awesome.

I joined wikipedia last year as a contributor of information. I'm always adding to the growing knowledge on wiki. Most recently Monday. I contribute in areas not covered by pdxradio.

Last Winter I gave wiki a great deal of information on the history Low Power TV stations in Oregon & Washington as well as TV Translators. Most of this information was later erased. wiki is not interested in Radio or TV history as much as it is in the current data about a station.

I'll correct errors I see on local Radio or TV station pages but I've learned not to expand on those subjects.

Have you guys discovered this yet? All American media information on wiki is being automatically transfer to Australia! Check these links out and then check any other Portland station at the end of the page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KLTH

http://www.thinkingaustralia.com/thinking_australia/wikipedia/default.php?title= KLTH

I am disappointed in Wikipedia for rejecting the historical data. For years, I have been looking for a website where I can look up the radio/television history of markets in which I've lived. Even a page with functioning links that can point me to such a history would be nice.

Yeah I am too..

I really thought bringing in some historical data (not tower locations, but personalities, etc.) would have made great contributions.

That ticks me off.

Here's a good website of Wikipedia criticism:
http://www.wikipedia-watch.org/

All American media information on wiki is being automatically transfer to Australia!
That's because, according to the above-referenced site, a lot of websites "scrape" content from websites like Wikipedia and Open Directory, so they have something for naive people to go to their website and show them tons and tons of ads, or add spyware/crapware to their computer.

Seriously, I think the best thing for people to do who have unique information to share is... start their own website! It's extremely easy to make pages offline (so you have a copy in case the host goes kaput); on the most effective website I ever created, I used what was then Mozilla Composer and a notepad knockoff; and upload them to a free webhost of your choosing. (Here's 3 free webhost directory sites: http://freewebspace.net, http://www.freewebsiteproviders.com/, http://www.free-webhosts.com/)

I posted my rant about Wikipedia a few months ago. Since there was no topic listed until now.

-------------------------------------------------------

You know speaking of Wikipedia.

This web site can be a strange one at times. I find the history changed section of each Wikipedia article to be controversial. For example, one person will write there version of the article. While another will write something totally different, In the same article there own way. It kinda go on and on in history entries section. Until someone information is considered to be the best one to use.

One big issue Wikipedia always has is copyrighted material. Weather it be a simple picture or worded information written without a citation. You can bet sooner or later a bon a fide Wikipedia editor. Will take out the information. Regardless of how important it is to the article in question. Some Wikipedia editors will go as far is claiming these web pages they oversee belong to them.

That's a rant?

Rant:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rant

I was trying to write some info on CLEAR CHANNEL, but my posts were removed.
Sometimes the truth hurts!

Wikipedia: Just one of the many divisions of CC.

A non-profit was set up in Canada to do broadcasting history. It is not perfect, but it has a ton of useful information. I write a daily Today in Radio History for a Canadian board based on googling the site. http://www.broadcasting-history.ca click to get in, then click on General Directory.

Several of us have also got together to do sites that focus on local broadcast personalities. http://www.vancouverbroadcasters.com has been around for quite a few years. But http://www.edmontonbroadcasters.com and http://www.calgarybroadcasters.com are just getting started.

Buns: If you want to get the word out, blog. Then frequent other blogs, link back, get to know some people.

It's the only way to keep this kind of crap from happening.

Last time i checked wiki was interested in FACT, not OPINION. chances are your CC piece was opinion.

Many posters on here, especially the "other side" would do well to read the WIKI definition of Weasle words/posts.

As a matter of fact i wish some of the radio information sites would enforse "weasle" free zones.

I agree with this, BTW.

However, I've seen a significant amount of not so solid discussions about what is and what is not fact.

I'm largely neutral on the wiki idea. Like it when it works, but it does not always work. It is not a safe assumption that wiki technology is solid in all cases. It's just not.

The comment about blogging remains valid however. Getting ones views about companies out there where others can see them is defensible. If said views are whacked, that will prove out easily enough.

If not... well, tough titty.

And this is again why so much effort is being applied to eliminate Net Equality. Trust me when the large companies are none too happy about people being able to feed back and relate their experiences.

The only people upset about this happen to be big business, some lame attorneys and a few others unhappy with the idea of their poor ways, means, processes or demeanor ending up just a bit more public than they would like.

There are always morons, but generally speaking, this process does us a lot of good. Call it market pressure. It's a solid check on corporations looking to cut costs and deliver less than appropriate value.

Great companies do not have these problems to a significant degree. Not so great ones do.

I'm not making a statement about CC here, just informing another Internet user about how to better leverage the tech, and why it matters.

Where it goes from there really depends on what is being expressed, how and why.

Ask Best Buy about how this dynamic works. I'm sure they will give you an ear full. (don't shop there, unless you are well prepared)

Here is Wikipedia at it's best:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=God&oldid=20121019

It was funnier with the Al Roker picture.

i love wikipedia.