New Year, New York
- Join the team at Today's Article for Improvement, a fairly new project that focuses on selecting vital, highly visible articles for collaborative work
- Editors are seeking help to revive WikiProject Britney Spears
- WikiProject Skateboarding could use some help with assessments, sourcing, and rebuilding articles
- The new WikiProject Brands has gone live and is welcoming new members
- The January 2013 Copyedit Backlog Elimination Drive starts this week
This week, we're celebrating the New Year from Times Square by interviewing WikiProject New York City. Since December 2004, WikiProject NYC has had the difficult task of maintaining articles about the largest city in the United States, many of which are also among the the most viewed articles on Wikipedia. The project is home to 22 Featured Articles, 7 Featured Lists, 32 pieces of Featured Media, and a lengthy list of Did You Know? entries. The project coordinates with the New York City Wikimedia Chapter to host meetups and serves as the parent of WikiProject New York City Public Transportation and WikiProject New York Theatre. We interviewed Jim.henderson.
What motivated you to join WikiProject New York City? Do you live in or near the Big Apple? Have you contributed to any of the project's Featured or Good Articles?
- I've lived in Manhattan 45 years and seen much geography in 50 years bicycling. Have contributed to probably over a thousand local articles including a few thousand photographs. Don't know whether any of the articles reached Featured or Good status.
With New York ranking as the most populous city in the United States and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, is WikiProject New York City bustling with activity? What challenges does the project face with attracting and retaining editors?
- The local chapter is active; we have several meetings per year. The Project likewise, especially the Transportation subproject. We have much to do, and many who are eager to do it.
Are any of the city's boroughs better covered than others on Wikipedia? What communities could use some attention? Has the project experienced difficulties acquiring photography for areas of the city that don't attract many tourists?
- My own idylic little island of Manhattan gets the majority of attention and especially photography, so for me it serves as home base for photo expeditions to places off the beaten touristic path including South Bronx and Gravesend last week, Rockaway day before yesterday, and the much-neglected Glendale, Ridgewood and Bushwick tomorrow.
New York's complex transportation system demands the attention of many articles under the project's scope. Does the project collaborate with any WikiProjects focusing on roads, mass transit, or waterways? Are there any articles or images that New Yorkers could easily contribute during their daily commute?
- We've got our own bustling WP:WikiProject New York City Public Transportation whose actual purview is wider geographically and topically. Yes, usually on a train trip I snap a few Wikiphotos. Commuters ought to familiarize themseves with articles covering places along their route, and keep their eyes open and camera phone or compact camera ready.
Has the project worked with any galleries, libraries, archives, or museums to establish GLAM projects? Are there any institutions in New York that you'd like to see sponsor a GLAM project?
- Yes a few times per year User:Pharos or our chapter leaders arrange a museum or library event indluding Wikipedia:Wikipedia Goes to the Movies at the Lincoln Center Library this coming Saturday. Great fun and it makes me wonder whether comething could be arranged with New York Academy of Sciences, Greater Astoria Historical Society and similar institutions.
What are the project's most urgent needs? How can a new contributor help today?
- As usual, look up something and find an inadequacy. We could certainly use Outer Boro photographers more competent than me.
Next week, we'll remember days of Auld Lang Syne. Until then, reminisce on our previous exploits in the archive.
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