Wikipedia: Editors leave
By Bala Shah

Wikipedia has always been one of the top 10 websites accessed by Indians.  Apart from being a rich source of research and educational material,   it can be credited as one of the greatest achievements of idealistic, global volunteer effort.

Wikipedia is among the top 5 websites in the world and is read by 325 million visitors every month.

But it is confronting a new challenge.  Its Volunteer Editors who create and manage the content are quitting by their thousands.  Wall Street Journal is reporting that Wikipedia has lost a staggering 49,000 Editors in the first 3 months of 2009.  Last year, the same figure was only 4900.

What are the reasons for 49000 Editors leaving?  The first would be Wikipedia has reached a certain stage of maturity where all the interesting topics like cricket, political figures like Gandhi, World War 11, Bollywood movies have been covered well. 

The second reason being attributed is that starting from this year these Wikipedia Editors have become more accountable to a senior level of Editors who can over rule them.  This has not gone down too well with the Editors who are predominantly male (87 percent and most below 30).  Young men around the world prefer to work on their own terms especially if it is a voluntary effort.

Like majority male clubs,  there is much bonding between people who started first,  and new comers often complain of the hard work they have to put in to break into this masculine domain.

Probably another reason is coping with conflict with members of the public over what was edited.  In the past, Wikipedia Editors ruled with an iron fist.  But now the general public is becoming equally assertive. And emails over particular Wikipedia pages can get quite heated.

Last but not the least, a global recession ensures that people concentrate on jobs more than voluntary pastimes.

The good news for Wikipedia?  Traffic increased by 20 percent last month.

But Wikipedia will have to take proactive steps to ensure the exodus of Editors is managed.