Bloomberg Businessweek Wikipedia's Quest for a Trustworthy Internet
Oct 28, 2025
Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust, dives into challenges of building an encyclopedia based on trust. He discusses how a clear purpose curbs toxicity and guides Wikipedia's moderation. Wales emphasizes reliance on credible sources to define facts and contrasts media financial pressures that polarize narratives. He suggests that newsrooms can learn from Wikipedia's transparency and neutrality practices. His insights highlight the importance of community decision-making in maintaining editorial independence.
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Purpose Keeps Communities Civil
- Wikipedia's clear, singular purpose — building an encyclopedia — focuses contributors and reduces toxicity.
- Jimmy Wales contrasts that with social platforms where vague purpose and engagement incentives fuel outrage.
Sources Define Facts
- Wikipedia relies on reliable, traditional sources like academic journals and quality newspapers when deciding facts.
- Jimmy Wales stresses that sources matter and social media influence should not be equated with peer-reviewed research.
Partisan Models Warp Coverage
- Media outlets chasing partisan audiences degrade balanced reporting and fragment truth perceptions.
- Wales notes readers often need to consult opposite-leaning sources to get a fuller picture.
