Grants:Project/Rapid/BrillLyle/Her Girl Friday Women Journos Editathon
This Wikimedia Foundation grant has a fiscal sponsor. Wikimedia New York City administered the grant on behalf of BrillLyle.
Promotional support by Lenny Letter
Project Goal
editChoose one or more of the following goals. You can add or delete goals as needed.
- Recruit new editors
- Increase skills for existing editors
- Add or improve content
- Engender discussion about fake news and its impact on politics, especially in light of the 2017 Inauguration
- Improve coverage of women journalists and subjects that are gender gap and from diverse backgrounds
Project Plan
editActivities
editTell us how you'll carry out your project. Be sure to answer the following questions:
1. Are you doing one editathon or training or a series of editathons or trainings?
- There will be at least one Train-the-Trainers event, with one held on Tuesday, January 3, 2017, and a possible follow-up workshop closer to the event for the planning stakeholders. There is no budget request for these pre-event trainings.
- The main editathon event will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2017
2. How will you let your community know about the event? Please paste links below to where relevant communities have been notified of your proposal, and to any other relevant community discussions.
- Erika Herzog aka BrillLyle from Wikimedia NYC will be using the same notifications to the community that is typical for Wikimedia NYC events:
- Talk page blast - Will work with Pharos to create
- Wikimedia NYC's Twitter account
- Her Girl Friday Facebook event - to be created
- Her Girl Friday's existing network
- Her Girl Friday typically has between 60 to 200 active participants at their events
- Lenny Letter, part of Hearst, is going to put their full promotional social networking weight behind the event
- Lenny Letter has committed to promoting the event on their various social media streams (i.e., Twitter, Instagram, Facebook). Their Instagram feed has ~277k followers. They would like to do an Instagram story on a Train the Trainers event that might be held prior to main event
Lenny Letter's newsletter, which is how they connect with their readers, as of March 2013, had approximately 400,000 subscribers. The assumption is that this number has increased significantly, so their promotional push would reach a significant audience population who are naturally interested in women- and allies-focused content- More information on Lenny Letter can be found on their Wikipedia entry and About page
- ThoughtWorks event listing and promotion
3. Do you have experienced Wikimedia editors to lead the event?
- Yes. BrillLyle and fellow WikiFacilitators from Wikimedia NYC. Wikimedia NYC organized 52 events last year.
- Her Girl Friday have been doing a significant amount of of planning on curating a great story and focus for the event. They are doing the planning on a private Google spreadsheet. After a great Train the Trainers event, they have refined the focus and have a great grasp on the over-arching event, Wikipedia editing, and how it relates to their community of women journalists and those interested in the news.
4. Do participants have the equipment or skills needed to participate and contribute high quality content? If not, how will you support them?
- Participants will be requested to bring their laptops to the event, which is typical
- ThoughtWorks will provide WiFi and the donated event space as services in kind
- Lightning talks that include Wikipedia editing training with a focus on the 5 Pillars, Neutrality, Notability; potential participation with high level press and journalist stakeholders to inform new and advanced editors alike about issues related to journalism
5. How will you engage participants after the event(s)?
- As is typical after Wikimedia NYC events, participants will be added to a Talk page mailing list that alerts them to events held throughout the New York City area by this very active local Wikipedia chapter
- A post-event survey could be conducted
6. Is there anything else you want to tell us about this project?
- The Her Girl Friday organizers have a great grasp on the power and value of Wikipedia, as they are heavy end-users of Wikipedia for research purposes. Their journalism skills are a complementary fit to Wikipedia content creation
- The potential outreach and organizational value of partnering with Her Girl Friday and Lenny Letter to make connections between women journalists and educate and equip them to understand the tenets and use of Wikipedia in a thoughtful and pedagogic environment of this unconference -- and holding it in one of the main media capitals of the world -- makes this project mission critical
- Additionally, the timing of this editathon, after the 2017 Presidential inauguration, where the public will be focused on grassroots organizing, understanding fake news, becoming more digitally literate, and empowering diverse communities, is an opportunity to connect people with the inherent value of Wikipedia.
Impact
editHow will you know if the project is successful and you've met your goals? Please include the following targets:
- Number of events: 1 unconference/editathon
- Number of participants: 60 participants minimum, though due to timing and Lenny Letter promotion, concern is that 200+ and an additional overflow space might be required. Lenny Letter has a high visibility and their newsletter is very popular. Because of this ThoughtWorks has provided this overflow option in case the headcount is higher than anticipated. We anticipate that if response to RSVP is high enough it might be necessary to do an RSVP cap and create a waitlist
- Number of new editors: 60 new editors
- Number of of articles created or improved: 60 articles improved (encourage improving existing articles and adding infoboxes and Wikidata for newer editors first, over creating new articles). Ideal goal would be each participant makes at least one edit to a page.
- Number of repeat participants (for projects that include a series of events): 5%-10%?
Resources
editWhat resources do you have? Include information on who is organizing the project, what they will do, and if you will receive support from anywhere else (in-kind donations or additional funding).
- Facilities (including WiFi): ThoughtWorks in-kind donation is estimated to be US$500+
- BrillLyle and WikiFacilitators from Wikimedia NYC are experienced at supporting unconference and editathon events
- Her Girl Friday has an existing user base that is uniquely suited to Wikipedia editing, but just need training and onboarding
- ThoughtWorks is a grassroots user space of like mind to the Wikimedia Foundation
- Lenny Letter is fully behind this event and will provide promotional push and put their name on their event. They have a large, high profile mailing list.
- Other stakeholders who could provide additional resources, engagements, and support
What resources do you need? For your funding request, list bullet points for each expense and include a total amount.
Estimate: Between 60 to 200+ people. Total cost: approximately US$1,000 which can be adjusted down if RSVP is low
- Between $775-$875 for food, ~$100 for coffee, ~$30 for office supplies
- Coffee/Tea/Water
- Starbucks' Coffee Traveler (caf/decaf) – serves 12. 6 units @ $15.95 = 72. US$95.70
- Contact: Annie, Assistant Store Manager. Call morning of (they open at 6:00 am, need approximately 45 minutes notice max). Starbucks – 29th & Park: 424 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016 212-725-0637 ext. 1
- Includes cups, napkins, stirrers as well as milk, etc. They would be able to prepare it for us in advance or we can get from counter supplies.
- Food
- Option 1: Whole Foods Catering Union Square. 4 Union Square South, New York, New York, 10003 212-673-5388
- Start
- Fresh Fruit Platter (Vegan): Large – serves 24 ($2.99/person). 1 unit @ $47.84 ** PAY IN STORE ** US$47.84
- Bagel Platter with Plain Cream Cheese (Vegetarian): Large – serves 20. 1 unit @ $49.99 = US$49.99
- Mini Breakfast Pastries Platter (Vegetarian): Large – serves 20. 1 unit @ $49.99 = US$49.99
- Middle
- Wrap & Roll Sampler: Large – serves 18. Choose from 3 varieties: Southwestern Turkey / Curried Chicken / Chicken Salad / Roast Beef / Vegetarian Mediterranean. 2 unit @ $74.99 = US$149.98
- Mesclun Goat Cheese Salad (Vegetarian): Large – serves 18. 1 unit @ $39.99 = US$39.99
- Mixed Green Salad (Vegan): Large – serves 18. 1 unit @ $29.99 = US$29.99
- Southwestern Salad (Vegetarian): Large – serves 18. 1 unit @ $39.99 = US$39.99
- Aft
- Fresh Crudités Platter (Vegan): Large – serves 24 ($3.49 /person). 1 unit @ $45.37 ** PAY IN STORE ** US$45.37
- European Cheese Platter – serves 16. 1 unit @ $69.99 = US$69.99
- Mezz (Mediterranean) Platter (Vegetarian) – serves 18. 1 unit @ $69.99 = US$69.99
- Dessert
- Large Cookie Assortment – serves 20. 1 unit @ $59.99 = US$59.99
- Brownies & Bars (Vegetarian) – serves 12. 1 unit @ $29.99 = US$29.99
- Subtotal: US$673.10
- Delivery Fee $TBD = US$TBD estimate ~$100?, will confirm
- Total: US$775.00
- Option 2: Fairway Kips Bay. 646-720-9420 Catering Manager: Takisha Viola Williams menu
- Start
- Fresh Fruit, Large. 1 unit @ $90 = US$90
- Mini Breakfast Pastries. 1 unit @ $120 = US$120
- Mini Bagel Platter. 1 unit @ #80 = US$80
- Middle
- 6 Foot Hero (Italian, Turkey, Grilled Vegetables, etc.) – serves 20. 1 unit @ $105 = US$210
- Mixed Greens Salad, Large – serves 18. 1 unit @ $40 = US$40
- Classic Greek Salad, Large – serves 18. 1 unit @ $55 = US$55
- Aft
- Cupcakes: $20/dozen. 4 x 12 = US$80 -- will color code by table / function for editathon segment
- Dessert
- Half Sheet Cake – serves 40 (but we'd slice very thin). 1 unit @ $60 = US$60
- Specialty cake decorating fee $25 extra = US$25
- Subtotal: US$760.00
- Delivery Fee $30 + Tip = US$100
- Total: US$875.00
- Half Sheet Cake – serves 40 (but we'd slice very thin). 1 unit @ $60 = US$60
- Vendors
- Will choose one of these vendors. Wanted to give options to show we have researched available vendors.
- WM NYC has used Fairway and Whole Foods is a reputable business
- Fairway, Kips Bay: 550 2nd Ave (30th St & 31st St) New York, NY 10016 646-720-9420. catering menu -- Fairway always does our logo cakes
- Whole Foods Market, Union Square: 4 Union Square South (S Park Ave & 17th St) New York, NY 10003 212-673-5388. catering menu
- Name badges, Sharpies
- US$28
- Name Badges. 100 each @ $6.25. 3 units @ $6.25 = US$18.75
- Sharpies, Black. 1 box with 12 Sharpies @ $9.25. 1 unit @ $9.25 = US$9.25
Note: Since this is an event planned, organized, and facilitated with WM NYC, we would use the WM NYC tax exempt status for all purchases.
- Ideally, if it is possible for Wikimedia New York City to be a fiscal sponsor in disbursing and managing this Rapid Grant, that might facilitate the grant. I have checked with WM NYC President, Richard, and WM NYC Treasurer, Pete Hess, on this. -- Erika
Endorsements
editCommunity members are encouraged to endorse your project request here!
- Sounds like a worthy event, and well within the Wikipedia mission statement, especially in terms on content creation, but also in community outreach, involvement, and gender gap improvement as well. Becksguy (talk) 22:44, 10 January 2017 (UTC)
- A positive project addressing the gender gap and its intersection with journalism, as well as highly relevant issues of media literacy on different types of platforms.--Pharos (talk) 19:09, 11 January 2017 (UTC)
- I was recently at an event at the New York Times where there was a lot of talk about the need for this kind of work. This project looks very promising and would likely lead to sustained and beneficial relationships.--Mozucat (talk) 21:39, 12 January 2017 (UTC)