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Revision as of 22:07, 13 June 2011 editWhatamIdoing (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers121,797 editsm →No inherited notability: Grammar← Previous edit Revision as of 11:30, 20 June 2011 edit undoGuoguo12 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers11,589 edits Various copyediting fixes throughout the article; see Misplaced Pages talk:Notability (web)#Copyediting for more detailsNext edit →
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{{Misplaced Pages subcat guideline|notability guideline|Websites|WP:WEB|WP:INTERNET|WP:NWEB|WP:WEBPAGE|WP:WEBSITE}} {{Misplaced Pages subcat guideline|notability guideline|Websites|WP:WEB|WP:INTERNET|WP:NWEB|WP:WEBPAGE|WP:WEBSITE}}
{{nutshell|Misplaced Pages should avoid articles about web sites that could be interpreted as ]. For material published on the web to have its own article in Misplaced Pages, it should be ] and of ]. Misplaced Pages articles about web content should use citations from ].}} {{nutshell|Misplaced Pages should avoid articles about web sites that could be interpreted as ]. For material published on the web to have its own article in Misplaced Pages, it should be ] and of ]. Misplaced Pages articles about web content should use citations from ].}}
{{dablink|] and ] redirects here. You might be looking for ], ], ], or ].}} {{dablink|] and ] redirects here. You might be looking for ], ], ], or ].}}
{{IncGuide}} {{IncGuide}}
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{{cquote|'''Internet guides.''' Misplaced Pages articles should not exist ''only'' to describe the nature, appearance or services a website offers, but should describe the site in an ''encyclopedic manner'', offering detail on a website's achievements, impact or historical significance, which can be significantly more up-to-date than most reference sources since we can incorporate new developments and facts as they are made known. See ] for examples.}} {{cquote|'''Internet guides.''' Misplaced Pages articles should not exist ''only'' to describe the nature, appearance or services a website offers, but should describe the site in an ''encyclopedic manner'', offering detail on a website's achievements, impact or historical significance, which can be significantly more up-to-date than most reference sources since we can incorporate new developments and facts as they are made known. See ] for examples.}}


This page gives some rough guidelines which most Misplaced Pages editors use to decide if any form of web-specific content, being either the content of a website or the specific website itself should have an article on Misplaced Pages. Web content includes, but is not limited to, ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s and other ], ], ]s, and ]. Any content which is distributed solely on the Internet is considered, for the purposes of this guideline, as web content.<ref>Content which has been packaged into material form, such as onto ], ] or ] form, but which is still primarily only available for sale via the Internet, still falls under these guidelines. If such packaging of the product is widely available for sale in major ] ]s, then it should be considered a product, for which see ].</ref> This page gives some rough guidelines which most Misplaced Pages editors use to decide if a form of web-specific content, being either the content of a website or the specific website itself, should have an article on Misplaced Pages. Web content includes, but is not limited to, ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, other ], ], ]s, and ]. Any content which is distributed solely on the Internet is considered web content for the purposes of this guideline.<ref>Content which has been packaged into material form, such as onto ], ], or ] form, but which is still primarily only available for sale via the Internet, still falls under these guidelines. If such packaging of the product is widely available for sale in major ] ]s, then it should be considered a product, for which see ].</ref>


Wikipedians are averse to the use of Misplaced Pages for ], and ] is an official policy of long standing. Advertising is either ] to adhere to the ] or deleted.<ref>Websites or content which fail these guidelines but are linked to a topic or subject which does merit inclusion may be ] to that topic or subject rather than be listed for deletion.</ref> Wikipedians are averse to the use of Misplaced Pages for ], and the idea that ] is an official policy of long standing. Advertising is either ] to adhere to the ] or deleted.<ref>Articles about websites or content which fail these guidelines but are related to a topic or subject which ''does'' merit inclusion may be ] to that topic or subject rather than be listed for deletion.</ref>


Misplaced Pages is not a ], in that it is not a site ''that specializes in linking to other web sites and categorizing those links.'' Misplaced Pages is not a mirror or a repository of links, images, or media files. Articles which merely include an external link and a brief description of its contents may be deleted. Misplaced Pages is not a ], in that it is not a site ''that specializes in linking to other web sites and categorizing those links.'' Misplaced Pages is not a mirror or a repository of links, images, or media files. Articles which merely include an external link and a brief description of its contents may be deleted.


Topics that do not satisfy notability criteria are dealt with in two ways: ] and ]. Articles that may be non-notable can be marked with the {{tl|notability}} template to make other editors aware of the problem. In the case of such articles being listed for deletion, such a listing occurs at ]. Alternatively, the ] may be used or the {{tl|db-web}} template to mark an article for the ] process. Topics that do not satisfy notability criteria are dealt with in two ways: ] and ]. Articles that may be non-notable can be marked with the {{tl|notability}} template to make other editors aware of the problem. When such articles being listed for deletion, the articles are discussed at ]. Alternatively, the ] may be used for articles that are ''uncontroversially'' deletion candidates, while the {{tl|db-web}} template can be used to mark an article for ]; see ] for details.


==Decisions based on verifiable evidence== ==Decisions based on verifiable evidence==
{{Main|Misplaced Pages:Notability#Notability requires verifiable evidence}} {{Main|Misplaced Pages:Notability#Notability requires verifiable evidence}}


In the dictionary, ''notable'' means "worthy of being noted" or "attracting notice." Misplaced Pages bases its decision about whether web content is notable enough to justify a separate article on the verifiable evidence that the web content has attracted the notice of ] ''unrelated'' to the web content, its authors, or its owners. Notability requires only that these necessary sources ''exist'', not that the sources have already been named in the article. In the dictionary, ''notable'' means "worthy of being noted" or "attracting notice." Misplaced Pages bases its decision about whether web content is notable enough to justify a separate article on the verifiable evidence that the web content has attracted the notice of ] ''unrelated'' to the web content, its authors, or its owners. Notability requires only that these necessary sources ''exist'', not that the sources have already been named in the article.


===No inherent notability=== ===No inherent notability===
"Notable" is not synonymous with "fame" or "importance," and even web content that editors personally believe are "important" or "famous" are only accepted as notable if they can be shown to have attracted notice. ]. If the individual web content has received no or very little notice from ], then it is not notable simply because other web content of its type are commonly notable or merely because ] (See ], below). "Notable" is not synonymous with "fame" or "importance," and even web content that editors personally believe are "important" or "famous" are only accepted as notable if they can be shown to have attracted notice. ]. If the individual web content has received no or very little notice from ], then it is not notable simply because other web content of its type are commonly notable or merely because ] (see ], below).


When evaluating the notability of web content, please consider whether they have had any significant or demonstrable effects on culture, society, entertainment, athletics, economies, history, literature, science, or education. High-traffic websites are likely to have more readily available ] information from ] that provide evidence of notability. However, smaller websites can be notable, just as individuals can be notable. Arbitrary standards should not be used to create a bias favoring larger websites. When evaluating the notability of web content, please consider whether they have had any significant or demonstrable effects on culture, society, entertainment, athletics, economies, history, literature, science, or education. High-traffic websites are likely to have more readily available ] information from ] that provide evidence of notability. However, smaller websites can be notable. Arbitrary standards should not be used to create a bias favoring larger websites.


===No inherited notability=== ===No inherited notability===
Web content is not notable merely because a notable person, business or event was associated with it. If the web content itself did not receive notice, then the web content is not notable. For example, if a notable person has a website, then the website does not "inherit" notability from its owner. In such cases, it is often best to describe the website in the article about the notable person. Web content is not notable merely because a notable person, business, or event was associated with it. If the web content itself did not receive notice, then the web content is not notable. For example, if a notable person has a website, then the website does not "inherit" notability from its owner. In such cases, it is often best to describe the website in the article about the notable person.


This works the other way as well: A website may be notable, but the owners or authors do not "inherit" notability due to the web content they wrote. Similarly, a website may be notable, but the owners or authors do not "inherit" notability due to the web content they wrote.


==Criteria== ==Criteria==
Keeping in mind that all articles must conform with our policy on ] to ], and that primary sources alone are not sufficient to establish notability; web-specific content<ref>Discussions of websites should be incorporated (with a redirect if necessary) into an article about the parent organization, unless the domain-name of the website is the most common way of referring to the organization. For example, ] is a redirect to ]. On the other hand ] is a standalone page.</ref> may be notable based on meeting '''any one''' of the following criteria. Keeping in mind that all articles must conform with the policy on ] to ], and that primary sources alone are not sufficient to establish notability; web-specific content<ref>Discussions of websites should be incorporated (with a redirect if necessary) into an article about the parent organization, unless the domain-name of the website is the most common way of referring to the organization. For example, ] is a redirect to ]. On the other hand ] is a standalone page.</ref> may be notable based on meeting '''any one''' of the following criteria.
# The content itself has been the subject of multiple non-trivial published works whose source is independent of the site itself. This criterion includes ] published works in all forms, such as newspaper and magazine articles, books, television documentaries, websites, and published reports by consumer watchdog organizations<ref>Examples: # The content itself has been the subject of multiple non-trivial published works whose source is independent of the site itself. This criterion includes ] published works in all forms, such as newspaper articles, magazine articles, books, television documentaries, websites, and published reports by consumer watchdog organizations<ref>Examples:
* The webcomic '']'' has been reviewed by '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. * The webcomic '']'' has been reviewed by '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.
* The blog ] has been covered by '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.</ref> ''except'' for the following: * The blog ] has been covered by '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.</ref> ''except'' for the following:
#* Media re-prints of press releases and advertising for the content or site.<ref>Self-promotion and product placement are not the routes to having an encyclopaedia article. The published works must be ''someone else'' writing about the company, corporation, product, or service. (See ] for the verifiability and neutrality problems that affect material where the subject of the article itself is the source of the material.) The barometer of notability is whether people ''independent'' of the subject itself (or of its manufacturer, creator, or vendor) have actually considered the content or site worthy enough that they have written and published non-trivial works that focus upon it.</ref> #* Media re-prints of press releases and advertising for the content or site.<ref>Self-promotion and product placement are not the routes to having an encyclopedia article. The published works must be by ''someone else'' who is writing about the company, corporation, product, or service. (See ] for the verifiability and neutrality problems that arise in material where the subject of the article itself is the source of material cited in the article.) The barometer of notability is whether people ''independent'' of the subject itself (or of its manufacturer, creator, or vendor) have actually considered the content or site worthy enough that they have written and published non-trivial works that focus upon it.</ref>
#* Trivial coverage, such as #* Trivial coverage, such as
#*# newspaper articles that simply report the Internet address, #*# newspaper articles that simply report the Internet address,
#*# newspaper articles that simply report the times at which such content is updated or made available, #*# newspaper articles that simply report the times at which such content is updated or made available,
#*# a brief summary of the nature of the content or the publication of Internet addresses and site or #*# a brief summary of the nature of the content or the publication of Internet addresses and site, and
#*# content descriptions in Internet directories or ]. #*# content descriptions in Internet directories or ].
# The website or content has won a well-known and independent award from either a publication or organization.<ref>Being nominated for such an award in multiple years may also be considered an indicator of notability.</ref> # The website or content has won a well-known and independent award from either a publication or organization.<ref>Being nominated for such an award in multiple years may also be considered an indicator of notability.</ref>
# The content is distributed via a medium which is both respected and independent of the creators, either through an online newspaper or magazine, an online publisher, or an online broadcaster;<ref>Content that is distributed by independent online sites will almost certainly satisfy the first criterion. However, this criterion ensures that our coverage of such content will be complete regardless. For example, ] had a ] distributed by '']''. Such distributions should be nontrivial.</ref> ''except for'' trivial distribution including content being hosted on sites without editorial oversight (such as ], ], ], personal blogs, etc.). # The content is distributed via a medium which is both respected and independent of the creators, either through an online newspaper or magazine, an online publisher, or an online broadcaster;<ref>Content that is distributed by independent online sites will almost certainly satisfy the first criterion. However, this criterion ensures that Misplaced Pages's coverage of such content will be complete regardless. For example, ] had a ] distributed by '']''. Such distributions should be nontrivial.</ref> ''except for'' trivial distribution including content being hosted on sites without editorial oversight (such as ], ], ], personal blogs, etc.).


These criteria are presented as ] for easily identifying web content that Misplaced Pages should probably have articles about. In almost all cases, a thorough search for ] will be successful for content meeting one or more of these criteria. However, meeting these criteria is not an absolute guarantee that Misplaced Pages should have a separate, stand-alone article entirely dedicated to the content. These criteria are presented as ] for easily identifying web content that Misplaced Pages should probably have articles about. In almost all cases, a thorough search for ] will be successful for content meeting one or more of these criteria. However, meeting these criteria is not an absolute guarantee that Misplaced Pages should have a separate, stand-alone article entirely dedicated to the content.


== See also == == See also ==

Revision as of 11:30, 20 June 2011

Blue tickThis page documents an English Misplaced Pages notability guideline.
Editors should generally follow it, though exceptions may apply. Substantive edits to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on this guideline's talk page.		Shortcuts
This page in a nutshell: Misplaced Pages should avoid articles about web sites that could be interpreted as advertising. For material published on the web to have its own article in Misplaced Pages, it should be notable and of historical significance. Misplaced Pages articles about web content should use citations from reliable sources.
WP:WEB and WP:INTERNET redirects here. You might be looking for Misplaced Pages:Build the web, Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Websites, Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Internet, or Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Internet culture.
Notability
General notability guideline
Subject-specific guidelines
See also

From WP:NOT#INTERNET:

“ Internet guides. Misplaced Pages articles should not exist only to describe the nature, appearance or services a website offers, but should describe the site in an encyclopedic manner, offering detail on a website's achievements, impact or historical significance, which can be significantly more up-to-date than most reference sources since we can incorporate new developments and facts as they are made known. See current events for examples. ”

This page gives some rough guidelines which most Misplaced Pages editors use to decide if a form of web-specific content, being either the content of a website or the specific website itself, should have an article on Misplaced Pages. Web content includes, but is not limited to, blogs, Internet forums, newsgroups, online magazines, other media, podcasts, webcomics, and web portals. Any content which is distributed solely on the Internet is considered web content for the purposes of this guideline.

Wikipedians are averse to the use of Misplaced Pages for advertising, and the idea that Misplaced Pages articles are not advertisements is an official policy of long standing. Advertising is either cleaned up to adhere to the neutral point of view or deleted.

Misplaced Pages is not a web directory, in that it is not a site that specializes in linking to other web sites and categorizing those links. Misplaced Pages is not a mirror or a repository of links, images, or media files. Articles which merely include an external link and a brief description of its contents may be deleted.

Topics that do not satisfy notability criteria are dealt with in two ways: merging and deleting. Articles that may be non-notable can be marked with the {{notability}} template to make other editors aware of the problem. When such articles being listed for deletion, the articles are discussed at Misplaced Pages:Articles for deletion. Alternatively, the proposed deletion process may be used for articles that are uncontroversially deletion candidates, while the {{db-web}} template can be used to mark an article for speedy deletion; see criterion A7 for details.

Decisions based on verifiable evidence

Main page: Misplaced Pages:Notability § Notability requires verifiable evidence

In the dictionary, notable means "worthy of being noted" or "attracting notice." Misplaced Pages bases its decision about whether web content is notable enough to justify a separate article on the verifiable evidence that the web content has attracted the notice of reliable sources unrelated to the web content, its authors, or its owners. Notability requires only that these necessary sources exist, not that the sources have already been named in the article.

No inherent notability

"Notable" is not synonymous with "fame" or "importance," and even web content that editors personally believe are "important" or "famous" are only accepted as notable if they can be shown to have attracted notice. No web content is exempt from this requirement, no matter what kind of content it is. If the individual web content has received no or very little notice from independent sources, then it is not notable simply because other web content of its type are commonly notable or merely because it exists (see "If it's not notable", below).

When evaluating the notability of web content, please consider whether they have had any significant or demonstrable effects on culture, society, entertainment, athletics, economies, history, literature, science, or education. High-traffic websites are likely to have more readily available verifiable information from reliable sources that provide evidence of notability. However, smaller websites can be notable. Arbitrary standards should not be used to create a bias favoring larger websites.

No inherited notability

Web content is not notable merely because a notable person, business, or event was associated with it. If the web content itself did not receive notice, then the web content is not notable. For example, if a notable person has a website, then the website does not "inherit" notability from its owner. In such cases, it is often best to describe the website in the article about the notable person.

Similarly, a website may be notable, but the owners or authors do not "inherit" notability due to the web content they wrote.

Criteria

Keeping in mind that all articles must conform with the policy on verifiability to reliable sources, and that primary sources alone are not sufficient to establish notability; web-specific content may be notable based on meeting any one of the following criteria.

  1. The content itself has been the subject of multiple non-trivial published works whose source is independent of the site itself. This criterion includes reliable published works in all forms, such as newspaper articles, magazine articles, books, television documentaries, websites, and published reports by consumer watchdog organizations except for the following:
    • Media re-prints of press releases and advertising for the content or site.
    • Trivial coverage, such as
      1. newspaper articles that simply report the Internet address,
      2. newspaper articles that simply report the times at which such content is updated or made available,
      3. a brief summary of the nature of the content or the publication of Internet addresses and site, and
      4. content descriptions in Internet directories or online stores.
  2. The website or content has won a well-known and independent award from either a publication or organization.
  3. The content is distributed via a medium which is both respected and independent of the creators, either through an online newspaper or magazine, an online publisher, or an online broadcaster; except for trivial distribution including content being hosted on sites without editorial oversight (such as YouTube, MySpace, Newgrounds, personal blogs, etc.).

These criteria are presented as rules of thumb for easily identifying web content that Misplaced Pages should probably have articles about. In almost all cases, a thorough search for independent, third-party reliable sources will be successful for content meeting one or more of these criteria. However, meeting these criteria is not an absolute guarantee that Misplaced Pages should have a separate, stand-alone article entirely dedicated to the content.

See also

Notes

  1. Content which has been packaged into material form, such as onto CD, DVD, or book form, but which is still primarily only available for sale via the Internet, still falls under these guidelines. If such packaging of the product is widely available for sale in major brick and mortar retailers, then it should be considered a product, for which see Misplaced Pages:Notability (companies and corporations).
  2. Articles about websites or content which fail these guidelines but are related to a topic or subject which does merit inclusion may be redirected to that topic or subject rather than be listed for deletion.
  3. Discussions of websites should be incorporated (with a redirect if necessary) into an article about the parent organization, unless the domain-name of the website is the most common way of referring to the organization. For example, yahoo.com is a redirect to Yahoo!. On the other hand Drugstore.com is a standalone page.
  4. Examples:
  5. Self-promotion and product placement are not the routes to having an encyclopedia article. The published works must be by someone else who is writing about the company, corporation, product, or service. (See Misplaced Pages:Autobiography for the verifiability and neutrality problems that arise in material where the subject of the article itself is the source of material cited in the article.) The barometer of notability is whether people independent of the subject itself (or of its manufacturer, creator, or vendor) have actually considered the content or site worthy enough that they have written and published non-trivial works that focus upon it.
  6. Being nominated for such an award in multiple years may also be considered an indicator of notability.
  7. Content that is distributed by independent online sites will almost certainly satisfy the first criterion. However, this criterion ensures that Misplaced Pages's coverage of such content will be complete regardless. For example, Ricky Gervais had a podcast distributed by The Guardian. Such distributions should be nontrivial.
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