Press room

Press releases Wikimedia UK puts out several press releases each year. These are put out via our blog and by email (if you want to receive them, please contact us). Previous press releases are below. Welcome to the world’s first Wikipedia town 16 May 2012: You've probably heard the saying, "In theory, Wikipedia shouldn't work, but in practice it does." Three of the things that contribute to make Wikipedia work are topic-specific WikiProjects ("let's write about a town"), Wikimedia chapters ("let's organise throughout the United Kingdom"), and unique ideas ("let's use QR codes to share content"). This week these three things successfully came together to create Monmouthpedia, "The World’s First Wikipedia Town" in Monmouth, Wales. British Library is looking for a Wikimedian In Residence (6 months) 9 February 2012: The British Library is recruiting an experienced Wikipedia editor with a good understanding of Wikimedia and GLAM projects. The post has funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the programme of activities will be run as part of the on-going partnership with Wikimedia UK. Wikimedia UK raises over £1 million 10 January 2012: Wikimedia UK is delighted to announce that it has raised over £1 million in the recent annual Wikimedia fundraiser. This is our highest ever fundraising total – a truly remarkable 81% increase on the £560,000 raised in Autumn 2010. Over 43,000 people contributed. This year also saw the widest variety of fundraising messages. Charity Status for the world’s favourite encyclopaedia – and a milestone for Charity Law 5 November 2011: Today the Charity Commission has approved Wikimedia UK, the UK membership organisation supporting Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia projects, as a registered charity. The news comes shortly before the launch of this year’s global Wikimedia fundraiser. Starting on 14th November, Wikimedia UK aims to raise £1 million to support Wikipedia and its sister projects. Ten million free media files and counting 16 April 2011: Ten is turning out to be the number of the year for Wikimedia. First, the Wikimedia Foundation celebrated the tenth anniversary of Wikipedia in January, and now Wikimedia Commons – the library of images, sound files, and videos that constitutes an integral component of Wikipedia’s user experience – has logged its 10,000,000th file. Cancer Research UK teams up with Wikipedia to improve online cancer information 28 March 2011: 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. Derby Museums and Wikipedia join forces 14 January 2011: Derby Museums has today announced that it has become the first regional museum service in the UK to formally join forces with Wikimedia UK to help improve Wikipedia’s content. Wikimedia UK raises £500,000 in shortest fundraiser ever 10 January 2011: Incredible. Every year the Wikimedia movement sets a fundraising goal that it knows will be a stretch. They have to do it, because the Wikimedia websites and movement keep growing. Wikipedia is now the fifth most-visited website in the world, but our staff, infrastructure and budget are just a fraction of that of any other top 10 website.	Contact Please use the following email address for press or media enquiries. presswikimedia.org.uk For urgent enquiries, please also contact Wikimedia UK on: +44 (0)20 7065 0990 Or Stevie Benton (Communications Organiser) on: +44 (0)20 7065 0993 or +44 (0)7803 505 173 Jon Davies -Chief Executive on: +44 (0)7803 505 169 Or Mike Peel (Trustee and Secretary) on: +44 (0)7890 142 394 For a Wikimedia community perspective, you can also contact: David Gerard - +44 (0)77 3322 3584 For an out of hours contact please call +44 (0) 7803 505 173. Materials Please see the following links for statistics, images and information about Wikimedia UK: Photo desk Wikimedia UK flyer 2010-2011 Activities summary Please see the following links for statistics, images and information about Wikipedia and its sister projects: Wikimedia 'report card' - numbers of visitors, editors, articles, etc. Detailed Wikimedia project statistics Wikipedia article statistics Official trademark images and identity guidelines For international information, please see the Wikimedia Foundation press room.