More on Citizendium

Mark Chillingworth, Expert edition, Information World Review, November 27, 2006.  Excerpt:

...Discussing Citizendium with IWR, [Larry] Sanger says the main difference between it and Wikipedia is that those who contribute content will have to use their real name and that it will have expert editors....

Sanger says experts will have to specify their credentials to become a Citizendium expert on a user page, as well as offer links to independent sources highlighting their credentials.  He admits, though, that Citizendium offers experts who make their living from writing or publishing material little or no incentive to offer up their knowledge.

Wikipedia has already shown there is a wealth of people prepared to create content or offer expertise for free. "There is a quorum of people who are willing to volunteer for the good of the world," says Sanger. He adds that he has "dozens" of editors lined up, including PhDs. "A lot of them are disaffected Wikipedia members," he says....

"It would foolish not to consult [experts], and with the internet it is possible to consult them. There is a potential here now to create a global village of experts who can be consulted on everything. The results could be really useful. A wiki-like project with experts was not possible until now. We needed Wikipedia to show the way." ...

Despite Citizendium's non-profit status, Sanger is researching revenue models to pay for its running and possibly for some experts. Sponsorship is a possibility, using a statement form of branding rather than display adverts. But Sanger's preferred revenue model is to attract philanthropic individuals to pay for the content on certain subjects.

"We are inviting ordinary people who require a certain piece of information to pay for its production. They will pay for the content as a gift to the world." In this scenario, Citizendium acts as a content broker, selecting and paying an independent author. "Patrons will specify the content, and will be recognised for it as the patron, but they cannot choose the person who writes the content," Sanger says.

Of the phenomenal growth of Wikipedia, Sanger says: "It is simply a matter of convenience. Most of the information on Wikipedia is locatable on the web, but Wikipedia brings it all together in one place."  And that is also why Sanger believes that Wikipedia will not be replaced by Citizendium. "Wikipedia has a giant support network. It's hard to imagine that Citizendium could ever damage it....