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{{essay |shortcut=WP:CREWE}}
⚫ '''Corporate Representatives for Ethical Misplaced Pages Engagement''' ('''CREWE''') is a ] group<ref name="corpcomm">{{cite web |url=http://www.corpcommsmagazine.co.uk/features/2212-time-for-wiki-editing |title=Time for Wiki Editing? |work=CorpComms: The Magazine for the Corporate Communicator |publisher=Hardy Media |location=London, UK |first=Clare |last=Harrison |date=2012-02-24 |accessdate=2012-03-01 |archive-date=2012-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302043904/http://www.corpcommsmagazine.co.uk/features/2212-time-for-wiki-editing |url-status=dead }}</ref> started by ],<ref name="Forbes">{{cite news |title=Misplaced Pages & the PR Pro: Friend or Foe? |author=Peter Himler |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhimler/2012/01/10/wikipedia-the-pr-pro-friend-or-foe/ |newspaper=] |date=January 10, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref> senior vice-president<ref name="PRweek">{{cite news |title=Misplaced Pages: Friend or foe? |author=Kate Magee |url=http://www.prweek.com/uk/features/login/1114954/ |newspaper=] |date=February 2, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref> at ], in January, 2012.<ref name="Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz">{{cite web |url=http://www.forimmediaterelease.biz/index.php?/weblog/comments/fir_interview_stuart_bruce_and_phil_gomes_on_pr_and_wikipedia/ |title=FIR Interview: Stuart Bruce and Phil Gomes on PR and Misplaced Pages |author=Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz |publisher=ForImmediateRelease.biz |date=January 13, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-12}}</ref><ref name="Jeremy Woolf">{{cite news |title=Wikiwars? PR pros seek editing rights from Misplaced Pages |author=Jeremy Woolf |url=http://www.campaignasia.com/Article/288532,opinion-wikiwars-pr-pros-seek-editing-rights-from-wikipedia.aspx |newspaper=Campaign Asia-Pacific |date=January 30, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}{{Subscription required}}</ref><ref name="techdirt">{{cite news |title=Making The Case For PR Pros Editing Misplaced Pages |author=Gerald F. Corbett |url=http://www.techdirt.com/blog.php?d=2&m=2&y=2012 |newspaper=] |date=February 2, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref> Composed of ] professionals and some Misplaced Pages editors,<ref>{{cite news |title=Wiki wars |author=Kaya Strehler |url=http://www.creammagazine.com/2012/02/the-wikiwar-is-on/ |newspaper=Cream Magazine |date=February 2, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Lovell"/> the group's aim is to improve the ] between the PR industry and the encyclopedia.<ref name="Jeremy Woolf"/><ref name="techdirt"/> CREWE lobbies for greater involvement by PR professionals on Misplaced Pages, with the stated goal of maintaining accurate articles about corporations.<ref name=TechRepublic/>


==Background==
⚫ '''Corporate Representatives for Ethical Misplaced Pages Engagement (CREWE)''' is a ] group<ref name=corpcomm>{{cite web |url=http://www.corpcommsmagazine.co.uk/features/2212-time-for-wiki-editing |title=Time for Wiki Editing |work=CorpComms: The Magazine for the Corporate Communicator |publisher=Hardy Media |location=London, UK |first=Clare |last=Harrison |date=2012-02-24 |accessdate=2012-03-01}}</ref> created by members of the ] industry with the aim of improving the relationship between their industry and ]. They lobby for greater involvement by PR professionals on the site, with the stated goal of maintaining accurate articles about corporations. Some Misplaced Pages editors, <ref>{{cite news |title=Wiki wars |author=Kaya Strehler |url=http://www.creammagazine.com/2012/02/the-wikiwar-is-on/ |newspaper=Cream Magazine |date=February 2, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref> including Misplaced Pages co-founder ]<ref name="Lovell"/>, have also joined the group to discuss these issues.<ref name=TechRepublic/> CREWE was started by Phil Gomes,<ref name="Forbes">{{cite news |title=Misplaced Pages & the PR Pro: Friend or Foe? |author=Peter Himler |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhimler/2012/01/10/wikipedia-the-pr-pro-friend-or-foe/ |newspaper=] |date=January 10, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref> senior vice-president<ref name="PRweek">{{cite news |title=Misplaced Pages: Friend or foe? |author=Kate Magee |url=http://www.prweek.com/uk/features/login/1114954/ |newspaper=] |date=February 2, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref> at ], in January, 2012 after John Cass of NewLogic Inc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newlogicusa.com/news/ |title=News &#124; Newlogic, Inc |publisher=Newlogicusa.com |date= |accessdate=2012-02-17}}</ref> recommended the idea to him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.forimmediaterelease.biz/index.php?/weblog/comments/fir_interview_stuart_bruce_and_phil_gomes_on_pr_and_wikipedia/ |title=FIR Interview: Stuart Bruce and Phil Gomes on PR and Misplaced Pages |author=Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz |publisher=ForImmediateRelease.biz |date=January 13, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Wikiwars? PR pros seek editing rights from Misplaced Pages |author=Jeremy Woolf |url=http://www.campaignasia.com/Article/288532,opinion-wikiwars-pr-pros-seek-editing-rights-from-wikipedia.aspx |newspaper=Campaign Asia-Pacific |date=January 30, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}{{subscription needed}}</ref><ref name="techdirt">{{cite news |title=Making The Case For PR Pros Editing Misplaced Pages |author=Gerald F. Corbett |url=http://www.techdirt.com/blog.php?d=2&m=2&y=2012 |newspaper=] |date=February 2, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref>


⚫ In a January 4, 2012, open letter to Misplaced Pages co-founder ], Phil Gomes of Edelman posted on his blog,<ref name="gomesblog">{{cite web|url=http://blog.philgomes.com/2012/01/open-letter-to-jimmy-wales-and-wikipedia.html |title=An Open Letter to Jimmy Wales and Misplaced Pages &ndash; Where the Fishermen Ain't: Phil Gomes' Thoughts on PR, Social Media, and Online Communities |publisher=Blog.philgomes.com |date=2012-01-04 |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> <blockquote>A truly serious conversation needs to happen about how communications professionals and the Misplaced Pages community can/must work together. Since recent events have thrown this issue into sharp relief, I'd like us to have an open, constructive and fair discussion about the important issues where public relations and Misplaced Pages intersect.<ref name=Forbes/></blockquote>
==Justification==
⚫ In a January 4th open letter to Misplaced Pages founder ], Phil Gomes of Edelman posted on his blog,<ref name="gomesblog">{{cite web|url=http://blog.philgomes.com/2012/01/open-letter-to-jimmy-wales-and-wikipedia.html |title=An Open Letter to Jimmy Wales and Misplaced Pages - Where the Fishermen Ain't - Phil Gomes' Thoughts on PR, Social Media, and Online Communities |publisher=Blog.philgomes.com |date=2012-01-04 |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> "A truly serious conversation needs to happen about how communications professionals and the Misplaced Pages community can/must work together. Since recent events have thrown this issue into sharp relief, I’d like us to have an open, constructive and fair discussion about the important issues where public relations and Misplaced Pages intersect.”<ref name=Forbes/>


Gomes argued that Misplaced Pages's prominence as a top search result adds a level of responsibility to be accurate.<ref name=techdirtpr/> He said that many articles have inaccuracies or are outdated, and existing channels for addressing these issues--such as leaving a message on the article's "Talk" page--do not receive timely responses.<ref name=techdirtpr/> Gomes further argued that allowing PR representatives to fix minor errors, such as spelling, grammar and facts, leaves too much ambiguity about what are acceptable changes to make.<ref name=techdirtpr/> He made the comparison between PR editors and activists, challenging that activists seem to enjoy "much more latitude".<ref name=techdirtpr/> Finally, Gomes argued that in certain situations direct editing of articles was called for: Gomes argued that Misplaced Pages's prominence as a top ] adds a level of responsibility to be accurate.<ref name=techdirtpr/> He said that many articles have inaccuracies or are outdated, and existing channels for addressing these issues—such as leaving a message on the article's "Talk" page—do not receive timely responses.<ref name=techdirtpr/> Gomes further argued that allowing PR representatives to fix minor errors, such as spelling, grammar and facts, leaves too much ambiguity about what are acceptable changes to make.<ref name=techdirtpr/> He made the comparison between PR editors and activists, challenging that activists seem to enjoy "much more latitude".<ref name=techdirtpr/> Finally, Gomes argued that in certain situations direct editing of articles was called for:
⚫ <blockquote>"When an entry is derelict (duration and definition TBD), a communications representative should be granted greater leeway in editing the entry. The entry can have a notification at the top indicating the derelict status, or even that a communications representative has had a hand in updating it. This will allow visitors to make their own judgments on how to evaluate the entry or even prioritize it in terms of how and when it gets evaluated and/or revised by a neutral party. The choice is between the certainty of an inaccurate entry or the possibility that the entry would not meet NPOV guidelines. Negative attention to bad behavior (or even to mediocre efforts) would mitigate the impact of the latter."<ref name=techdirtpr/></blockquote>


<blockquote>
==Organization==
⚫ When an entry is derelict (duration and definition TBD), a communications representative should be granted greater leeway in editing the entry. The entry can have a notification at the top indicating the derelict status, or even that a communications representative has had a hand in updating it. This will allow visitors to make their own judgments on how to evaluate the entry or even prioritize it in terms of how and when it gets evaluated and/or revised by a neutral party. The choice is between the certainty of an inaccurate entry or the possibility that the entry would not meet NPOV guidelines. Negative attention to bad behavior (or even to mediocre efforts) would mitigate the impact of the latter.<ref name=techdirtpr/></blockquote>
⚫ As of March 1, 2012, CREWE has 235 members,<ref name="facebook">{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/groups/crewe.group/ |title=CREWE Facebook Group |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2012-03-12}}</ref> including ], Shel Holtz, Neville Hobson, Marcia W. DiStaso,<ref name="institute">{{cite news |title=Should Public Relations Professionals be Allowed to Edit Misplaced Pages Articles? |author=Marcia W. DiStaso |url=http://www.instituteforpr.org/2012/02/should-public-relations-professionals-be-allowed-to-edit-wikipedia-articles/ |newspaper=Institute for Public Relations |date=February 13, 2012 |accessdate=February 17, 2012}}</ref> and industry trade association the ].<ref name=Forbes/> The group was created as a source for discussion so that the disparate groups "can have a constructive relationship in the public interest of maintaining entries that are accurate" on Misplaced Pages.<ref name="management">{{cite news |title=CREWE group hopes to unblock Wiki impasse |author=] |url=http://www.management.co.nz/executiveupdate.asp?eID=320&utm_campaign=MGTE&utm_medium=email&utm_source=37 |newspaper=New Zealand Management |date=February 3, 2012 |accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref>

==Establishment==

⚫ The CREWE ] group was established by Gomes on January 4, 2012<ref name="DiStasso1">Marcia W. DiStaso, ''Public Relations Journal,'' vol. 6, no. 2 (2012), pdf pg. 1.</ref> after John Cass of NewLogic Inc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newlogicusa.com/news/ |title=News &#124; Newlogic, Inc |publisher=Newlogicusa.com |date= |accessdate=2012-02-17}}</ref> recommended the idea to him.<ref name="Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz"/> As of March 3, 2012, the group had grown to 237 members, including public relations professionals, academics, and interested Misplaced Pages volunteers.<ref name=DiStasso1 /> Among the group's participants at that time were ], Shel Holtz, Neville Hobson, Marcia W. DiStaso,<ref name="institute">{{cite news |title=Should Public Relations Professionals be Allowed to Edit Misplaced Pages Articles? |author=Marcia W. DiStaso |url=http://www.instituteforpr.org/2012/02/should-public-relations-professionals-be-allowed-to-edit-wikipedia-articles/ |newspaper=Institute for Public Relations |date=February 13, 2012 |accessdate=February 17, 2012}}</ref> and industry trade association the ].<ref name=Forbes/> The group was created as a source for discussion so that the disparate groups "can have a constructive relationship in the public interest of maintaining entries that are accurate" on Misplaced Pages.<ref name="management">{{cite news |title=CREWE group hopes to unblock Wiki impasse |author=Staff writer |url=http://www.management.co.nz/executiveupdate.asp?eID=320 |newspaper=New Zealand Management |date=February 3, 2012 |accessdate=February 18, 2012|author-link=Staff writer }}</ref>


According to Gerard F. Corbett, CEO of PRSA, CREWE is based on four principles:<ref name=techdirt/> According to Gerard F. Corbett, CEO of PRSA, CREWE is based on four principles:<ref name=techdirt/>
*Corporate communicators want to do the right thing. #Corporate communicators want to do the right thing.
*Communicators engaged in ethical practice have a lot to contribute. #Communicators engaged in ethical practice have a lot to contribute.
*Current Misplaced Pages policy does not fully understand Nos. 1 and 2, owing to the activities of some bad actors and a general misunderstanding of public relations in general. #Current Misplaced Pages policy does not fully understand Nos. 1 and 2, owing to the activities of some bad actors and a general misunderstanding of public relations in general.
*Accurate Misplaced Pages entries are in the public interest. #Accurate Misplaced Pages entries are in the public interest.


CREWE maintains a group on ]<ref name=facebook/> including a page where people can report issues they have with Misplaced Pages.<ref name="TechRepublic">{{cite news |title=Four Social Media IT rules to live by |author=Gina Smith |url=http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/tech-manager/four-social-media-it-rules-to-live-by/7275 |newspaper=] |date=February 7, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref> It also details Misplaced Pages's ] guidelines, best practices for editors with conflicts of interest, and controversial issues.<ref name=TechRepublic/> One proposal of the CREWE participants is for a list of mistakes in the Misplaced Pages articles on ] companies.<ref name="Odwyer">{{cite news |title=Tortuous Misplaced Pages Rules Require Expert |author=Jack O'Dwyer |url=http://www.odwyerpr.com/blog/index.php?/archives/3911-Tortuous-Misplaced Pages-Rules-Require-Expert.html |newspaper=] |date=January 25, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref> Another page documents the CREWE PR Plan<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/groups/crewe.group/doc/165384016900187/ |title=CREWE PR Plan|publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> and a proposal for a pilot project that would allow PR representatives to edit Misplaced Pages articles.<ref name="Lovell">{{cite web|url=http://lovell.com/public-relations/pr-pros-push-wikipedia-editing-rights/ |title=PR Pros Push For Misplaced Pages Editing Rights|publisher=Lovell Communications |date=January 19, 2012|author=Erin Lawley |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> The CREWE Facebook site includes a page where people can report issues they have with Misplaced Pages.<ref name="TechRepublic">{{cite news |title=Four Social Media IT rules to live by |author=Gina Smith |url=http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/tech-manager/four-social-media-it-rules-to-live-by/7275 |newspaper=] |date=February 7, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref> It also details Misplaced Pages's ] guidelines, best practices for editors with conflicts of interest, and controversial issues.<ref name=TechRepublic/> One proposal of the CREWE participants is for a list of mistakes in the Misplaced Pages articles on ] companies.<ref name="Odwyer">{{cite news |title=Tortuous Misplaced Pages Rules Require Expert |author=Jack O'Dwyer |url=http://www.odwyerpr.com/blog/index.php?/archives/3911-Tortuous-Misplaced Pages-Rules-Require-Expert.html |newspaper=] |date=January 25, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref> Another page documents the CREWE PR Plan<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/groups/crewe.group/doc/165384016900187/ |title=CREWE PR Plan|publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> and a proposal for a pilot project that would allow PR representatives to edit Misplaced Pages articles.<ref name="Lovell">{{cite web|url=http://lovell.com/public-relations/pr-pros-push-wikipedia-editing-rights/ |title=PR Pros Push For Misplaced Pages Editing Rights|publisher=Lovell Communications |date=January 19, 2012|author=Erin Lawley |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref>


Among the organization's goals are to get Jimmy Wales to change his opinion about paid editors directly editing articles (he argues it shouldn't happen)<ref name=institute/> as well as making Misplaced Pages a more welcoming place for PR workers.<ref name="socialfresh">{{cite web|url=http://socialfresh.com/jimmy-wales-and-public-relations-face-off/ |title=Jimmy Wales and Public Relations Face Off |author=David King |publisher=Socialfresh.com |date=January 16, 2012|accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> As of March 8, 2012, Misplaced Pages's ] guideline "strongly discourages" direct editing of articles, but encourages use of article discussion pages, by editors with a conflict of interest.<ref>{{oldid|Misplaced Pages:Conflict of interest|480820037|Previous revision of Misplaced Pages:Conflict of interest}}</ref> Among the organization's goals are to get Jimmy Wales to change his opinion about paid editors directly editing articles (he argues it shouldn't happen)<ref name=institute/> as well as making Misplaced Pages a more welcoming place for PR workers.<ref name="socialfresh">{{cite web|url=http://socialfresh.com/jimmy-wales-and-public-relations-face-off/ |title=Jimmy Wales and Public Relations Face Off |author=David King |publisher=Socialfresh.com |date=January 16, 2012|accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> As of March 8, 2012, Misplaced Pages's ] guideline "strongly discourages" direct editing of articles, but encourages use of article discussion pages, by editors with a conflict of interest.<ref>{{oldid|Misplaced Pages:Conflict of interest|480820037|Previous revision of Misplaced Pages:Conflict of interest}}</ref>

CREWE is conducting a survey looking at how Misplaced Pages is viewed by Public Relations professionals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://womma.org/word/2012/02/27/wikipedia’s-credibility/|title=Misplaced Pages’s Credibility|author=Pat McCarthy|date=February 27, 2012|retrieved=March 12, 2012}}</ref>


==Reception== ==Reception==
Line 27: Line 29:


PRSA's chair and ] Gerry Corbett said about paid editing and CREWE: PRSA's chair and ] Gerry Corbett said about paid editing and CREWE:
<blockquote>The effort by Phil Gomes and the group he has started on Facebook, is a critical advocacy activity that the Public Relations Society of America wholeheartedly supports..., we believe, will augment a timely campaign that will benefit the entire public relations and corporate communications industry, while helping to establish better relationships with the Misplaced Pages community, which clearly has an influential role in modern research for people of all professions....It is an initiative we hope will be taken up by many and used as a catalyst for an open and honest discussion with Misplaced Pages and its editors regarding the role and value of allowing corporate communications and PR professionals to responsibly and transparently make necessary edits to their employers’ and clients’ Misplaced Pages entries.<ref name=Forbes/></blockquote> <blockquote>The effort by Phil Gomes and the group he has started on Facebook, is a critical advocacy activity that the Public Relations Society of America wholeheartedly supports..., we believe, will augment a timely campaign that will benefit the entire public relations and corporate communications industry, while helping to establish better relationships with the Misplaced Pages community, which clearly has an influential role in modern research for people of all professions....It is an initiative we hope will be taken up by many and used as a catalyst for an open and honest discussion with Misplaced Pages and its editors regarding the role and value of allowing corporate communications and PR professionals to responsibly and transparently make necessary edits to their employers’ and clients' Misplaced Pages entries.<ref name=Forbes/></blockquote>


In a response on Gomes' blog, Wales maintained PR representatives should cooperate with the community and abide by its policies, but still not edit articles directly.<ref name="techdirtpr">{{cite web|url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120110/02160317359/should-pr-people-be-able-to-edit-otherwise-ignored-wikipedia-pages-their-clients-to-correct-errors.shtml |title=Should PR People Be Able To Edit Otherwise Ignored Misplaced Pages Pages Of Their Clients To Correct Errors? |publisher=] |date=2012-01-10 |accessdate=2012-02-11}}</ref> Wales wrote: In a response on Gomes' blog, Wales maintained that PR representatives should cooperate with the community and abide by its policies, but still not edit articles directly.<ref name="techdirtpr">{{cite web|url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120110/02160317359/should-pr-people-be-able-to-edit-otherwise-ignored-wikipedia-pages-their-clients-to-correct-errors.shtml |title=Should PR People Be Able To Edit Otherwise Ignored Misplaced Pages Pages Of Their Clients To Correct Errors? |publisher=] |date=2012-01-10 |accessdate=2012-02-11}}</ref> Wales wrote:


<blockquote>...no one in the PR industry has ever put forward a cogent argument (and seldom bother putting forward an argument at all) why it is important that they take the potentially (especially if I have anything to do with it) reputation damaging step of directly editing entries where they are acting as paid advocates. The simple and obvious answer is to do what works, without risking the reputation of the client: talk to the community, respect their autonomy, and never ever directly edit an article. There are many avenues for you to make simple factual corrections, and these avenues actually do work...What I have found - and the evidence for this is pretty comprehensive - is that people who are acting as paid advocates do not make good editors. They insert puffery and spin. That's what they do because that it is what paid advocates do.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.philgomes.com/2012/01/open-letter-to-jimmy-wales-and-wikipedia.html?cid=6a00d8341d764753ef0168e53ff85c970c#comment-6a00d8341d764753ef0168e53ff85c970c |title=An Open Letter to Jimmy Wales and Misplaced Pages - Where the Fishermen Ain't - Phil Gomes' Thoughts on PR, Social Media, and Online Communities |publisher=Blog.philgomes.com |date=2012-01-04 |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref></blockquote> <blockquote>no one in the PR industry has ever put forward a cogent argument (and seldom bother putting forward an argument at all) why it is important that they take the potentially (especially if I have anything to do with it) reputation damaging step of directly editing entries where they are acting as paid advocates. The simple and obvious answer is to do what works, without risking the reputation of the client: talk to the community, respect their autonomy, and never ever directly edit an article. There are many avenues for you to make simple factual corrections, and these avenues actually do work...What I have found &ndash; and the evidence for this is pretty comprehensive &ndash; is that people who are acting as paid advocates do not make good editors. They insert puffery and spin. That's what they do because that it is what paid advocates do.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.philgomes.com/2012/01/open-letter-to-jimmy-wales-and-wikipedia.html?cid=6a00d8341d764753ef0168e53ff85c970c#comment-6a00d8341d764753ef0168e53ff85c970c |title=An Open Letter to Jimmy Wales and Misplaced Pages &ndash; Where the Fishermen Ain't: Phil Gomes' Thoughts on PR, Social Media, and Online Communities |publisher=Blog.philgomes.com |date=2012-01-04 |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref></blockquote>


] contributor and PR/media strategist Peter Himler wrote of CREWE, "Let’s keep an eye on this, especially since Mr. Wales appears to have listened and may be poised to make some concessions to the PR industry."<ref name=Forbes/> PR professional Neville Hobson was less optimistic, saying, "From talking to Jimmy Wales it's clear that he is pretty rigid on his issue of what Misplaced Pages can do.<ref name=corpcomm/> David King, a marketing professional, suggested that paid editors need to earn the respect of the Misplaced Pages community and educate themselves about its rules before they push for broader editing privileges.<ref name="PRSquared">By David King, PR-Squared. "." February 13, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.</ref><ref name="socialfresh"/> ] contributor and PR/media strategist Peter Himler wrote of CREWE, "Let’s keep an eye on this, especially since Mr. Wales appears to have listened and may be poised to make some concessions to the PR industry."<ref name=Forbes/> PR professional Neville Hobson was less optimistic, saying, "From talking to Jimmy Wales it's clear that he is pretty rigid on his issue of what Misplaced Pages can do.<ref name=corpcomm/> David King, a marketing professional, suggested that paid editors need to earn the respect of the Misplaced Pages community and educate themselves about its rules before they push for broader editing privileges.<ref name="socialfresh"/><ref name="PRSquared">By David King, PR-Squared. "." February 13, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.</ref>


Around the same time CREWE was created, a separate on-Misplaced Pages group called ''WikiProject Cooperation''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Cooperation |title=Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Cooperation - Misplaced Pages, the 💕 |publisher=] |date= |accessdate=2012-02-12}}</ref> was started to provide education, oversight, and assistance, and collaboration to paid editors.<ref name=socialfresh/> Around the same time CREWE was created, a separate on-Misplaced Pages group called ''WikiProject Cooperation''<ref>{{cite web |title=Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Cooperation - Misplaced Pages, the 💕|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Cooperation |publisher=] |date= }}</ref> was started to provide education, oversight, assistance, and collaboration to and with paid editors.<ref name=socialfresh/>


==See also== ==See also==
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==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}} {{Reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
* * {{Facebook|groups/crewe.group}} {{registration required}} (also requires Facebook account approval)


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Latest revision as of 20:42, 16 January 2024

Essay on editing Misplaced Pages
This is an essay.
It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Misplaced Pages contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Misplaced Pages's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.		Shortcut

Corporate Representatives for Ethical Misplaced Pages Engagement (CREWE) is a Facebook group started by Phil Gomes, senior vice-president at Edelman Digital, in January, 2012. Composed of public relations professionals and some Misplaced Pages editors, the group's aim is to improve the relationship between the PR industry and the encyclopedia. CREWE lobbies for greater involvement by PR professionals on Misplaced Pages, with the stated goal of maintaining accurate articles about corporations.

Background

In a January 4, 2012, open letter to Misplaced Pages co-founder Jimmy Wales, Phil Gomes of Edelman posted on his blog,

A truly serious conversation needs to happen about how communications professionals and the Misplaced Pages community can/must work together. Since recent events have thrown this issue into sharp relief, I'd like us to have an open, constructive and fair discussion about the important issues where public relations and Misplaced Pages intersect.

Gomes argued that Misplaced Pages's prominence as a top search result adds a level of responsibility to be accurate. He said that many articles have inaccuracies or are outdated, and existing channels for addressing these issues—such as leaving a message on the article's "Talk" page—do not receive timely responses. Gomes further argued that allowing PR representatives to fix minor errors, such as spelling, grammar and facts, leaves too much ambiguity about what are acceptable changes to make. He made the comparison between PR editors and activists, challenging that activists seem to enjoy "much more latitude". Finally, Gomes argued that in certain situations direct editing of articles was called for:

When an entry is derelict (duration and definition TBD), a communications representative should be granted greater leeway in editing the entry. The entry can have a notification at the top indicating the derelict status, or even that a communications representative has had a hand in updating it. This will allow visitors to make their own judgments on how to evaluate the entry or even prioritize it in terms of how and when it gets evaluated and/or revised by a neutral party. The choice is between the certainty of an inaccurate entry or the possibility that the entry would not meet NPOV guidelines. Negative attention to bad behavior (or even to mediocre efforts) would mitigate the impact of the latter.

Establishment

The CREWE Facebook group was established by Gomes on January 4, 2012 after John Cass of NewLogic Inc. recommended the idea to him. As of March 3, 2012, the group had grown to 237 members, including public relations professionals, academics, and interested Misplaced Pages volunteers. Among the group's participants at that time were Jack O’Dwyer, Shel Holtz, Neville Hobson, Marcia W. DiStaso, and industry trade association the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The group was created as a source for discussion so that the disparate groups "can have a constructive relationship in the public interest of maintaining entries that are accurate" on Misplaced Pages.

According to Gerard F. Corbett, CEO of PRSA, CREWE is based on four principles:

  1. Corporate communicators want to do the right thing.
  2. Communicators engaged in ethical practice have a lot to contribute.
  3. Current Misplaced Pages policy does not fully understand Nos. 1 and 2, owing to the activities of some bad actors and a general misunderstanding of public relations in general.
  4. Accurate Misplaced Pages entries are in the public interest.

The CREWE Facebook site includes a page where people can report issues they have with Misplaced Pages. It also details Misplaced Pages's conflict of interest guidelines, best practices for editors with conflicts of interest, and controversial issues. One proposal of the CREWE participants is for a list of mistakes in the Misplaced Pages articles on Fortune 100 companies. Another page documents the CREWE PR Plan and a proposal for a pilot project that would allow PR representatives to edit Misplaced Pages articles.

Among the organization's goals are to get Jimmy Wales to change his opinion about paid editors directly editing articles (he argues it shouldn't happen) as well as making Misplaced Pages a more welcoming place for PR workers. As of March 8, 2012, Misplaced Pages's conflict of interest guideline "strongly discourages" direct editing of articles, but encourages use of article discussion pages, by editors with a conflict of interest.

Reception

After the group started, conversation on Twitter and elsewhere ensued between group members and Wales.

PRSA's chair and CEO Gerry Corbett said about paid editing and CREWE:

The effort by Phil Gomes and the group he has started on Facebook, is a critical advocacy activity that the Public Relations Society of America wholeheartedly supports..., we believe, will augment a timely campaign that will benefit the entire public relations and corporate communications industry, while helping to establish better relationships with the Misplaced Pages community, which clearly has an influential role in modern research for people of all professions....It is an initiative we hope will be taken up by many and used as a catalyst for an open and honest discussion with Misplaced Pages and its editors regarding the role and value of allowing corporate communications and PR professionals to responsibly and transparently make necessary edits to their employers’ and clients' Misplaced Pages entries.

In a response on Gomes' blog, Wales maintained that PR representatives should cooperate with the community and abide by its policies, but still not edit articles directly. Wales wrote:

no one in the PR industry has ever put forward a cogent argument (and seldom bother putting forward an argument at all) why it is important that they take the potentially (especially if I have anything to do with it) reputation damaging step of directly editing entries where they are acting as paid advocates. The simple and obvious answer is to do what works, without risking the reputation of the client: talk to the community, respect their autonomy, and never ever directly edit an article. There are many avenues for you to make simple factual corrections, and these avenues actually do work...What I have found – and the evidence for this is pretty comprehensive – is that people who are acting as paid advocates do not make good editors. They insert puffery and spin. That's what they do because that it is what paid advocates do.

Forbes contributor and PR/media strategist Peter Himler wrote of CREWE, "Let’s keep an eye on this, especially since Mr. Wales appears to have listened and may be poised to make some concessions to the PR industry." PR professional Neville Hobson was less optimistic, saying, "From talking to Jimmy Wales it's clear that he is pretty rigid on his issue of what Misplaced Pages can do. David King, a marketing professional, suggested that paid editors need to earn the respect of the Misplaced Pages community and educate themselves about its rules before they push for broader editing privileges.

Around the same time CREWE was created, a separate on-Misplaced Pages group called WikiProject Cooperation was started to provide education, oversight, assistance, and collaboration to and with paid editors.

See also

References

  1. ^ Harrison, Clare (2012-02-24). "Time for Wiki Editing?". CorpComms: The Magazine for the Corporate Communicator. London, UK: Hardy Media. Archived from the original on 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  2. ^ Peter Himler (January 10, 2012). "Misplaced Pages & the PR Pro: Friend or Foe?". Forbes. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  3. Kate Magee (February 2, 2012). "Misplaced Pages: Friend or foe?". PRWeek. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  4. ^ Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz (January 13, 2012). "FIR Interview: Stuart Bruce and Phil Gomes on PR and Misplaced Pages". ForImmediateRelease.biz. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  5. ^ Jeremy Woolf (January 30, 2012). "Wikiwars? PR pros seek editing rights from Misplaced Pages". Campaign Asia-Pacific. Retrieved February 10, 2012.(subscription required)
  6. ^ Gerald F. Corbett (February 2, 2012). "Making The Case For PR Pros Editing Misplaced Pages". Techdirt. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  7. Kaya Strehler (February 2, 2012). "Wiki wars". Cream Magazine. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  8. ^ Erin Lawley (January 19, 2012). "PR Pros Push For Misplaced Pages Editing Rights". Lovell Communications. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  9. ^ Gina Smith (February 7, 2012). "Four Social Media IT rules to live by". TechRepublic. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  10. "An Open Letter to Jimmy Wales and Misplaced Pages – Where the Fishermen Ain't: Phil Gomes' Thoughts on PR, Social Media, and Online Communities". Blog.philgomes.com. 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  11. ^ "Should PR People Be Able To Edit Otherwise Ignored Misplaced Pages Pages Of Their Clients To Correct Errors?". Techdirt. 2012-01-10. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
  12. ^ Marcia W. DiStaso, '"Measuring Public Relations Misplaced Pages Engagement: How Bright is the Rule?" Public Relations Journal, vol. 6, no. 2 (2012), pdf pg. 1.
  13. "News | Newlogic, Inc". Newlogicusa.com. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  14. ^ Marcia W. DiStaso (February 13, 2012). "Should Public Relations Professionals be Allowed to Edit Misplaced Pages Articles?". Institute for Public Relations. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  15. Staff writer (February 3, 2012). "CREWE group hopes to unblock Wiki impasse". New Zealand Management. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  16. Jack O'Dwyer (January 25, 2012). "Tortuous Misplaced Pages Rules Require Expert". O'Dwyer's. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  17. "CREWE PR Plan". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  18. ^ David King (January 16, 2012). "Jimmy Wales and Public Relations Face Off". Socialfresh.com. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  19. Previous revision of Misplaced Pages:Conflict of interest
  20. "An Open Letter to Jimmy Wales and Misplaced Pages – Where the Fishermen Ain't: Phil Gomes' Thoughts on PR, Social Media, and Online Communities". Blog.philgomes.com. 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  21. By David King, PR-Squared. "Misplaced Pages for Marketers: The Last Word." February 13, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  22. "Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Cooperation - Misplaced Pages, the 💕". Wikimedia Foundation.

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