Many readers will be aware of Wikipedia, the online open source dictionary - which allows anyone with access to the Internet to post, edit and even debate entries on any given subject.

However there is relatively little information for the Caribbean and Jamaica on the site. For example: the entries for Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Opposition Leader Bruce Golding are languishing at ‘stub’ level.

Photos by Ross Sheil: Wikipedia entries for People’s National Party President (PNP) Portia Simpson Miller and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader Bruce Golding.

Stubs, explain Wikipedia, are “… either a very short article or a rough collection of information that will need much work to bring it to A-Class level”.

So, if you do not want the nation’s leaders to remain at stub stature on the international stage; then improve the information, by making your own additions to the site or joining its communities, such as WikiProject Caribbean.

You can enter all kinds of factual information such as politicians’ positions on various issues, controversies or political achievements.

You do not need to sign up with the site to get involved in Wikipedia, however it is advised, since otherwise your IP address will be recorded publicly, which will enable others to identify you – creating a free Wikipedia account will maintain your privacy.

With Wikipedia being open source it is possible - and it does happen - for persons to post incorrect or malicious information. Therefore for Wikipedia to remain a reliable resource you must post responsibly and correct information posted by others where necessary.

As of today Wikipedia claims approximately 7.8 million articles in 253 languages making it the world’s largest and fastest growing encyclopedia.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 16th, 2007 at 5:06 pm and is filed under Citizen journalism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.