The document discusses sources used on Wikipedia articles about rapidly evolving events, comparing sources that are "on the books" (Wikipedia's reliability policies) versus "on the ground" (how sources are actually used in practice). It notes that Wikipedia's policies emphasize verifiability and distinguish primary, secondary, and tertiary sources, but in reality initial articles about events are often based on primary sources from social media that are later replaced by secondary sources as events unfold over time. The document examines sources used in the 2011 Egyptian revolution article as an example.

1. WP SOURCES On the books and on the ground
Heather Ford
Cartoon by Carlos Latuff in the public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wake_up_Egypt.png; Screenshot from Al Jazeera English
Live TV http://www.aljazeera.com/watch_now/;ʼFile:Police in civilian cloth beating a protester in Cairo 1.pngʼ from Al Jazeera CC BY 3.0
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

2. 1. the project
2. sources on the books
3. sources on the ground
4. some conclusions
5. design recommendations
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3. <the project>
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

4. Understanding sources/WikiSweeper
2011 2012
Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug
ethnographic research | user testing
development of SwiftRiver
by: in collaboration with: funded by:
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5. problems:
1. collaboratively track news sources
2. find reliable sources in unfamiliar
media environments
3. confusion around the reliability of
social media sources
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

6. design goal:
build a system to help Wikipedians
and/or other knowledge workers to
discover, manage and verify (social
media) sources during rapidly evolving
events
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

7. research goal:
discover how (social media) sources
are chosen, managed and verified in
rapidly evolving WP articles
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

8. </the project>
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9. <sources_on_the_books>
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10. Tuesday, May 1, 2012

11. WP:SOURCE (or “Verifiability not truth”)
xkcd
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Webcomic_xkcd_-_Wikipedian_protester.png CC BY NC by xkcd
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12. WP:RS (or “reliable sources”)
book + author + publisher
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

13. WP:RS (or “reliable sources”)
• Number of people involved Specific to news reporting:
• Number of citations in citation • identity of the author
indexes
• specificity and depth
• type of article
• verified
• “published” status
• circular sourcing
• primary, secondary or tertiary
sources
• context
• reputation
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

14. WP:RS (or “reliable sources”)
Primary sources Secondary sources Tertiary sources
eye witness accounts second hand accounts
summarize primary and
directly involved in an event one step removed from an
secondary sources
event
diary encyclopedia
review article
work of art other compendia
journal article
political decision textbook
Reliably published tertiary
Can be used but only with sources can be helpful in
Articles may make an
care. Any interpretation of providing broad summaries
analytic or evaluative claim
primary source material of topics that involve many
only if it has been published
requires a reliable primary and secondary
by a reliable source
secondary source sources, esp. when sources
contradict each other.
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Wikipedia:PSTS#Primary.2C_secondary_and_tertiary_sources
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

15. context is critical
Primary sources Secondary sources Tertiary sources
eye witness accounts second hand accounts
summarize primary and
directly involved in an event one step removed from an
secondary sources
event
diary encyclopedia
review article
work of art other compendia
journal article
political decision textbook
Reliably published tertiary
Can be used but only with sources can be helpful in
Articles may make an analytic
care. Any interpretation of providing broad summaries of
or evaluative claim only if it
primary source material topics that involve many
has been published by a
requires a reliable secondary primary and secondary
reliable source
source sources, esp when sources
contradict each other.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

16. context is critical
Primary sources Secondary sources Tertiary sources
eye witness accounts second hand accounts
summarize primary and
directly involved in an event one step removed from an
secondary sources
event
diary encyclopedia
review article
work of art other compendia
journal article
political decision textbook
journalism Reliably published tertiary
Can be used but only with sources can be helpful in
Articles may make an analytic
care. Any interpretation of providing broad summaries of
or evaluative claim only if it
primary source material topics that involve many
has been published by a
requires a reliable secondary primary and secondary
reliable source
source sources, esp when sources
contradict each other.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

17. context is critical
Primary sources Secondary sources Tertiary sources
eye witness accounts second hand accounts
summarize primary and
directly involved in an event one step removed from an
secondary sources
event
diary encyclopedia
review article
work of art other compendia
journal article
political decision textbook
journalism Reliably published tertiary
Can be used but only with sources can be helpful in
Articles may make an analytic
care. Any interpretation of providing broad summaries of
or evaluative claim only if it
primary source material topics that involve many
has been published by a
requires a reliable secondary primary and secondary
reliable source
source sources, esp when sources
contradict each other.
Wikipedia
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

18. </sources_on_the_books>
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19. <sources_on_the_ground>
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20. the source <original version+author>
of the page can play a significant role
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

21. Created by The Egyptian Liberal at 13:26 UTC, 25 January, 2011
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2011_Egyptian_revolution&oldid=409962868
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

22. The 2011 Egyptian protests are a continuing series of
street demonstrations taking place throughout Egypt
from January 2010 onwards with organisers counting on
the Tunisian uprising to inspire the crowds to mobilize.
The demonstrations and riots were reported to have
started over police brutality, State of Emergency Laws,
unemployment, the lack of housing, food inflation,
corruption, freedom of speech and poor living conditions
[1]. The protests main goal is to oust President Hosni
Mubarak who has been in power for more than 30 years.
While localised protests were already commonplace
over previous years, major protests and riots erupted all
over the country starting in "25 January" (the date set by
Egyptian opposition groups, celebrities and football
supporters for a major demonstration)[1].
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

23. The 2011 Egyptian protests are a continuing series of
street demonstrations taking place throughout Egypt
from January 2010 onwards with organisers counting on
the Tunisian uprising to inspire the crowds to mobilize.
The demonstrations and riots were reported to have
started over police brutality, State of Emergency Laws,
unemployment, the lack of housing, food inflation,
corruption, freedom of speech and poor living conditions
[1]. The protests main goal is to oust President Hosni
Mubarak who has been in power for more than 30 years.
While localised protests were already commonplace
over previous years, major protests and riots erupted all
over the country starting in "25 January" (the date set by
Egyptian opposition groups, celebrities and football
supporters for a major demonstration)[1].
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

24. The 2011 Egyptian protests are a continuing series of
street demonstrations taking place throughout Egypt
from January 2010 onwards with organisers counting on
the Tunisian uprising to inspire the crowds to mobilize.
The demonstrations and riots were reported to have
started over police brutality, State of Emergency Laws,
unemployment, the lack of housing, food inflation,
corruption, freedom of speech and poor living conditions
[1]. The protests main goal is to oust President Hosni
Mubarak who has been in power for more than 30 years.
While localised protests were already commonplace
over previous years, major protests and riots erupted all
over the country starting in "25 January" (the date set by
Egyptian opposition groups, celebrities and football
supporters for a major demonstration)[1].
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

25. The 2011 Egyptian protests are a continuing series of
street demonstrations taking place throughout Egypt
from January 2010 onwards with organisers counting on
the Tunisian uprising to inspire the crowds to mobilize.
The demonstrations and riots were reported to have
started over police brutality, State of Emergency Laws,
unemployment, the lack of housing, food inflation,
corruption, freedom of speech and poor living conditions
[1]. The protests main goal is to oust President Hosni
Mubarak who has been in power for more than 30 years.
While localised protests were already commonplace
over previous years, major protests and riots erupted all
over the country starting in "25 January" (the date set by
Egyptian opposition groups, celebrities and football
supporters for a major demonstration)[1].
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

26. The 2011 Egyptian protests are a continuing series of
street demonstrations taking place throughout Egypt
from January 2010 onwards with organisers counting on
the Tunisian uprising to inspire the crowds to mobilize.
The demonstrations and riots were reported to have
started over police brutality, State of Emergency Laws,
unemployment, the lack of housing, food inflation,
corruption, freedom of speech and poor living conditions
[1]. The protests main goal is to oust President Hosni
Mubarak who has been in power for more than 30 years.
While localised protests were already commonplace
over previous years, major protests and riots erupted all
over the country starting in "25 January" (the date set by
Egyptian opposition groups, celebrities and football
supporters for a major demonstration)[1].
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

27. The 2011 Egyptian protests are a continuing series of
street demonstrations taking place throughout Egypt
from January 2010 onwards with organisers counting on
the Tunisian uprising to inspire the crowds to mobilize.
The demonstrations and riots were reported to have
started over police brutality, State of Emergency Laws,
unemployment, the lack of housing, food inflation,
corruption, freedom of speech and poor living conditions
[1]. The protests main goal is to oust President Hosni
Mubarak who has been in power for more than 30 years.
While localised protests were already commonplace
over previous years, major protests and riots erupted all
over the country starting in "25 January" (the date set by
Egyptian opposition groups, celebrities and football
supporters for a major demonstration)[1].
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

28. http://bit.ly/ggdZt4
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

29. Caption: Khaled Mohamed Saeed holding up a
tiny, flailing, stone-faced Hosni Mubarak
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/File:Khaled_Mohamed_Saeed_holding_up_a_tiny,_flailing,_stone-faced_Hosni_Mubarak.png
File:Khaled Mohamed Saeed holding up a tiny, flailing, stone-faced Hosni Mubarak.png
From Latuff on Twitpic: https://twitpic.com/3swvnr
(Cartoon) We are all Khaled Said #Jan25
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

30. User:The Egyptian Liberal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:The_Egyptian_Liberal 3 April, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

31. File:Police in civilian cloth beating a protester in Cairo 1.png
Screenshot from Al Jazeera video: 29
January 2011 by the Egyptian Liberal
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/File:Police_in_civilian_cloth_beating_a_protester_in_Cairo_1.png
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

32. Tuesday, May 1, 2012

33. Where the editors at
I feel like I have been editing this page by myself for a while. This would have been cool if It was not about current
event. The infos keep coming and honestly, I cant keep up. SO PLEASE HELP! -- The Egyptian Liberal (talk) 07:59,
9 February 2011 (UTC)
I agree that more editors need to come and help. However, and please don't be offended in any way, but I
think you should definitely let other editors take the lead, Egyptian Liberal. Although you have done a
PHENOMENAL job so far, due to the fact that this issue seems very near and dear to your heart, I feel that
perhaps you should step back and let those editors who may have a more objective view take the lead, with you
offering guidance and advice. I would also like to tell you that as a fellow Deist, I am not praying for your
compatriots, but I am however keeping them and their struggle in mind. I wish you and all of Egypt the best of
luck in achieving democracy. Edit: BTW I am not editing this article because I support the protesters vehemently
and do not feel that I could maintain a NPOV Lilly (talk) 02:08, 10 February 2011 (UTC)
I completely understand your concern. Some of my friends have hurt during the protests so I might too
invested in the article. I have been trying to be as neutral as I much as I can I am still a human. That's why I
asked for more editors to come and help to make sure I am not leaning on way or another. It helps that I
blow most of anger on twitter and facebook when I get or read bad news. But I think I owe the people who
are protesting and those who have passed away to tell their story from a NPOV. I am not nor can I be in
Egypt due my university so that my way of standing up to Mubarak and tell him I shall not be silenced and I
shall tell the world what happened. I would be happy not to take the lead. That why I asked Lihaas among
others to add certain parts that I know I can not do. like the wael part due to my personal relationship with
him. I hope you would join us in editing tho. If you maintain a NPOV, trust me, other editors will let you know
(me included). P.S Always happy to meet another fellow Deist-- The Egyptian Liberal (talk) 09:17, 10
February 2011 (UTC)
I'm glad that you understand and I feel that you have been very neutral so far. You have been doing a
FABULOUS job, and I will try to help when I can. Perhaps I will try to write the timeline part. That
seems pretty hard to be biased on that page/section. You are right, we do owe those that have died.
We owe them a voice. Inshallah, no more people will die, and inshallah Mubarak will be out soon.
Salaam. Lilly (talk) 15:39, 10 February 2011 (UTC)
from Archive 5 of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution Talk page
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

34. primary sources are gradually replaced
by secondary sources
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35. 11 February 16:04 UTC
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36. 11 February 16:04 UTC
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37. 1 year later: 13:27 UTC 25 Jan 2012
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38. 1 year later: 13:27 UTC 25 Jan 2012
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39. 1 year later: 13:27 UTC 25 Jan 2012
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40. the cite is not always the same as the
source
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41. Tuesday, May 1, 2012

42. source: live television
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43. source: live television
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44. verification by sources on the ground
Wael Ghonim is released and there is a question about him being identified as the
Facebook admin of one of the protest groups:
I just spoke to Wael and no, he is still the admin of the
page -- The Egyptian Liberal (talk) 08:57, 8 February
2011
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

45. tags provide cues/warnings regarding
the “in progress” nature of the article
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46. Tuesday, May 1, 2012

47. </sources_on_the_ground>
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48. <conclusions>
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49. WP:RS (or “reliable sources”)
book + author + publisher
William Beutler: http://thewikipedian.net/2011/04/01/wiki-fools/
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

50. WP:RS (or “reliable sources”)
book + author + publisher
William Beutler: http://thewikipedian.net/2011/04/01/wiki-fools/
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

51. The blurring of boundaries along traditional RS lines:
- blogs can host reliable secondary source authors
- Twitter can provide access to an authentic primary
source showing how individuals reacted
- Twitter RT by someone like Andy Carvin can be
seen as a secondary source
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

52. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources/Noticeboard
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53. the cite is not always the same as the
source
Pic by Uwe Kils CC BY SA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iceberg.jpg
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54. </conclusions>
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55. <design recommendations>
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56. working from collaboratively managing sources
already happening
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57. Tuesday, May 1, 2012

58. </design recommendations>
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59. http://www.swiftly.org/beta/
Tuesday, May 1, 2012