WikiTribune Surrenders Power To Common Man

True knowledge lies with the crowd, not with journalists, says Peter Bale, Launch Editor, WikiTribune

The fact that every industry across the world is impacted either by development or lack of it, coupled with the speed at which news travels today makes conventional media platforms obsolete. This is where WikiTribune steps in, placing the community on the same stature as that of journalists, according to Jimmy Wales, Owner, WikiTribune.

“Nobody has all the answers. True knowledge lies with the crowd, not with journalists. We use the experience and knowledge of community members to try and explain the events unfolding worldwide. WikiTribune hands over power to the common man,” said Peter Bale, Launch Editor, WikiTribune, at the Arab Media Forum (AMF) on Tuesday.

The 17th edition of the AMF is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,  at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, from 3-4 April 2018.

Today in conventional media, it is difficult to differentiate between commentary, opinion and news, Bale said. “With the immense access to information today and the popular use of social media, misinformation travels faster than News. To combat this, WikiTribune is being built on trust and transparency, while it adheres to the principles of perpetual improvement,” he explained.

RETHINKING JOURNALISM

WikiTribune has a structured system. The news platform comprises stories that are complex, not binary good or bad, according to Bale. “Stories are selected after detailed deliberation on questions such as – will it offer multiple views; does it have international relevance; are there facts available that can enhance understanding; is it a subject that will develop and last more than one news cycle, among several other factors. For instance, one of its latest stories is the #MeToo campaign.

Launched in April 2017 and headquartered in London, “WikiTribune is rethinking journalism,” said Bale. The young news platform comprises of six staff members and six freelancers. It grew from 1,500 users in October last year to a strong 8,500 registered users who are active in the community today.

Journalism at WikiTribune is unique. It does not cover disasters, weather and celebrities. “We are not ‘a Breaking News platform’,” said Bale. “Staff journalism is a catalyst for community input, and not a substitute for it. The community will decide what level of participation on the process they want – fact-checking, adding expertise, re-writing, editing, replacing, etc.

Wiki Journalism is detail-oriented, not merely a world observed and described from a vantage point. “We are not historians,” Bale said. However, the stories they cover could become a first draft of history as they include every possible fact across various layers as the events evolve, thus making WikiTribune a news platform for everyone,” explained Bale.

Under the theme ‘Impactful Media Trends’, the two-day AMF brings together more than 3,000 prominent regional and international media figures and thought leaders. The event also features 50 speakers representing 20 countries from across the Arab region and the world who will share their views on diverse issues at the Forum with the aim of forging a new vision for the media.