This Day Wikipedia, The Last Good Place On The Internet (2003) w/ Garrett Graff
Jun 24, 2025
Garrett Graff, a historian and journalist, joins the discussion to illuminate Wikipedia's transformative shift to a non-profit in 2003. He explores how this change shaped its role in promoting collective knowledge over profit. The conversation touches on Wikipedia's initial skepticism and its impact as a democratizing platform for information. They also delve into the internet's evolving landscape, highlighting issues like misinformation, the influence of algorithms, and the complexities of online discourse. It's a fascinating look at Wikipedia's past and its relevance today.
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Wikipedia's Revolutionary Wiki Model
- Wikipedia emerged as a groundbreaking free encyclopedia using a wiki model for easy editing.
- This contrasted with traditional expensive encyclopedias, marking a shift toward user-generated content.
Wikipedia's Real-time Authority
- Wikipedia has become an authoritative source due to community vigilance and rapid updates.
- It often provides timely, accurate info on breaking news by pooling diverse reports instantly.
Wikipedia as Research Starting Point
- Wikipedia serves as a useful starting point with references for academic research but isn't a proper final source.
- Its crowdsourced nature means content can be biased and untraceable to a single author.