Fundraiser ends, content contests, image donation, and more

News and notes

Fundraiser ends, content contests, image donation, and more

Fundraiser finishes

The annual fundraiser ended on January 5, having raised just over $8 million. For the fiscal year to date, the total (through January 5) was almost $9.5 million. According to the Wikimedia Foundation's press release, in 2009 there were over 230,000 donations, and the average gift was $33. The fundraiser ended 10 days before the original projected end. Thank-you banners have run on the projects for a few days, linking to a letter from Jimmy Wales.

This was the largest fundraiser in Wikimedia's history, surpassing last year's fundraiser both in money raised ($2 million more this year) and number of donors (125,000 donations were received during 2008 and 2009). Statistics comparing the last three fundraisers can be found here.

Wikinews writing contest

Wikinews is sponsoring a Writing Contest that will begin on January 25, 2010 and finish on April 18, 2010. All editors are welcome; newcomers are requested to not contribute original reporting for their first few articles until they become familiar with Wikinews. A detailed point system for articles submitted during the 12-week contest is described on the contest page. Prizes will be offered to the winners.

WikiCup begins

The 2010 WikiCup began on January 1. A field of 146 contestants are to be given points over the course of the 10-month-long contest for their contributions to featured content. The first phase of the contest lasts until February 26, when the field will be narrowed to 64 contestants.

This is the fourth annual WikiCup. Although it is too late to enter the cup (entry closed December 31), current standings can be seen on the WikiCup page.

Image donation

As reported in the last issue, a donation of images from the Mary Rose Trust has been made. The donation, which is now on Commons, is of 57 high-resolution images of the Mary Rose, a warship from the 1500s. Some of the images were specially taken for Wikipedia. The donation was negotiated by a member of Wikimedia Sweden, User:Peter Isotalo; a Swedish press release was also distributed. The press releases were accompanied by a DYK featuring of the articles Mary Rose and Anthony Roll. This is the first image donation by a UK organization.

Briefly

A new Wikimedia report card, based on Wikistats and logs, is out for the period November 2008 – November 2009. Like previous report cards, the statistics cover page views, new content (Commons files and Wikipedia articles) and new and active editors.
Wikimedia UK celebrated Public Domain Day on January 1, 2010; on that day, works by authors who died 70 years ago enter the public domain in the UK. This year, this includes works by W. B. Yeats, Ford Madox Ford, Alphonse Mucha, Sigmund Freud, and Arthur Rackham.
The long-standing backlog of unpatrolled new articles has been cleared, mainly by the efforts of User:Ironholds.
A parody video of Hitler's downfall that spoofs the Featured Article process appeared on YouTube. Be sure to turn on subtitles (bottom right of video screen).