2024:Program/WikiProject leads to connection with elected officials
Session title: WikiProject leads to connection with elected officials
- Session type: Lecture
- Track: Partnerships
- Language: en
In 2009, I started a project, which collected information about potential members of the Israeli Parliament. It has since grown to include other elected positions in Israel and over 200 new articles have been written, through this project. The project has also created connections between me and other Wikipedians, to people who can help us promote Wikimedia's goals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNMNjKSIGc8&t=5240
Description
editIn 2009, I started a project, which collected information about potential members of the Knesset - Israel's Parliament. It has since grown to include other elected positions in Israel and over 200 new articles have been written, through this project. The project has also created connections between me and other Wikipedians, to people who can help us promote Wikimedia's goals. Since politicians are interested in publicity, it was a win-win situation. My name is passed around between members of the Knesset, as someone who can help them, while they help me. Hundreds of picture were released and uploaded to WikiCommons due to these connections. It also brought me to lecture to Paliamentary advidors and was broadcast in the Knesset TV channel. The next step is to have a :"Wikipedia Day" in the Knesset, which will include discussion in the relevant committees about Wikimedia's goals, taking free photos and more lectures about Wikipedia. I would be happy to hear from other Wikipedians on their experience in this subject.
Session recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNMNjKSIGc8&list=PLhV3K_DS5YfL7A2HXrpt8ZgnWlGjp0vIP&index=9&t=5242s
- How does your session relate to the event theme, Collaboration of the Open?
This project brings the idea of collaboration, to the highest level of government, where people can change and make new laws, to promote the idea of free knowledge.
- What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Resources
editSpeakers
edit- Amihai Bannett
- Amihai Bannett has been editing in Wikipedia, since 2006, with tens of thousands of edits, mostly on Hebrew Wikipedia.
- Amihai has been active in Wikimedia Israel, promoting free knowledge and photos, along with lecturing about Wikipedia and being interviewed on many media platforms and social networks.
- He attended Wikimania twice - in Haifa and Singapore, where he also lectured.
- His day job is CEO of Herzog Global, at Herzog College.