Press releases/Cancer Research UK

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Cancer Research UK teams up with Wikipedia to improve online cancer information

• ; Cancer Research UK focuses on improving quality of existing Wikipedia pages and adding more up-to-date and accurate information.
• ; Wikipedia authors (Wikipedians) hold a 'Wikipedia Workshop' to teach Wikipedia's culture to cancer experts.

25th March 2011, London: Wikimedia UK, the organisation behind Wikipedia in the UK, today announces it will be running a 'Wikipedia Academy' at Cancer Research UK's London offices. Guided by experienced Wikipedia editors, Cancer Research UK's comunications staff will explore how their unique expertise can benefit Wikipedia, improving existing cancer-related pages and sharing new information about cancer and health.

The academy is split into two sessions. The first took place in early February and consisted of a 2 hour comprehensive introduction to Wikipedia, including what makes a good Wikipedia article and how to interact with other contributors. The second session, on Monday 28th March 2011, is an all-day 'hands-on' session where the Wikipedians will guide attendees through their first edits to Wikipedia.

Kate Arnold, Director of Patient Information at Cancer Research UK, said: "Wikipedia is a key source of information for people looking for information about cancer. Either they go to the site directly or they Google a term and Wikipedia links appear high in the search rank. We believe it is vital for the information available on these pages to be accurate and easy to understand."

"We are extremely grateful to Wikimedia UK and its volunteers for sharing their expertise and dedicating time and resources to helping us with this project. It is going to really help us get to grips with how to edit the site quickly and appropriately", continues Mr Scowcroft.

Michael Peel, Secretary at Wikimedia UK comments: "Wikipedia is one of the largest websites on the internet, and is used by hundreds of millions of people world-wide every month. Contributing to Wikipedia helps Cancer Research UK ensure that Wikipedia's readers can easily find reliable, accurate and comprehensive cancer-related information, no matter where they are in the world."

The 'Wikipedia Workshop' is a bespoke event, tailored to the needs of its host organisation. Attendess learn how to engage with Wikipedia, whether by adding information, correcting mistakes or sharing digital files. To learn more about the Workshop or to apply for Wikimedia UK to host one at your organisation, please contact infowikimedia.org.uk.

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About Wikimedia UK

Wikimedia UK (incorporated under the name “Wiki UK Limited“) is the local Wikimedia chapter covering the United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK is a separate organisation from the Wikimedia Foundation, and has no control over the contents of Wikipedia or any other projects run by the Wikimedia Foundation. It exists to help collect, develop and distribute freely licensed knowledge (and other educational, cultural and historic content), which we do by supporting the charitable activities of the Wikimedia Foundation. For further information about Wikipedia UK, please visit:

• http://www.wikimedia.org.uk/
• http://blog.wikimedia.org.uk/

About The Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit organization which operates Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. According to comScore Media Metrix, Wikipedia and the other projects operated by the Wikimedia Foundation receive 398 million unique visitors per month, making them the 5th most popular web property world-wide (Sept, 2010). Available in more than 270 languages, Wikipedia contains more than 16 million articles contributed by a global volunteer community of more than 100,000 people. Based in San Francisco, California, the Wikimedia Foundation is an audited, 501(c)(3) charity that is funded primarily through donations and grants.

• http://wikimediafoundation.org
• http://blog.wikimedia.org

About Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research

• The charity’s groundbreaking work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.
• This work is funded entirely by the public.
• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates double in the last forty years.
• Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to beat cancer.

For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 7121 6699 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org

Contact information

Michael Peel, Secretary, Wikimedia UK

• Tel: +44 (0)7890 142 394
• Email: michael.peelwikimedia.org.uk