KQED's Forum Forum From the Archives: Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales on How to Build Trust
Jan 2, 2026
Join Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust, as he delves into the vital role trust plays in the success of this beloved crowdsourced encyclopedia. He discusses Wikipedia's unique editorial model, the passionate volunteers behind it, and how transparent sourcing fosters trust amidst accusations of bias. Wales addresses challenges from critics like Elon Musk, explores the impact of AI, and emphasizes the need for diverse contributors to enhance content accuracy.
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Open Editing Built On Community Trust
- Wikipedia trusts users to edit openly and relies on community moderation to block bad actors.
- That trust works because most people contribute in good faith and community norms enforce civility.
Cite Sources And Describe Debates
- Always show sources and link to high-quality, reliable references to build reader trust.
- Keep articles neutral and present debates rather than taking sides so readers can decide.
Transparency Strengthens Credibility
- Flagging disputed neutrality or missing sources actually increases trust by signaling transparency.
- Readers appreciate visible warnings because they acknowledge complexity rather than pretending certainty.
