British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Truth According to Wikipedia, The

Synopsis
As traditional mass media wither away and an increasing number of people access information through Wikipedia, critics warn that "our" Web is taking a course that will eventually lead to an info-crisis and loss of truth. This free online encyclopaedia claims to offer the sum total of all human knowledge. Its entries, regardless of their level of expertise, are in the hands of its millions of users: information has become democratised. But an increasing number of critics, such as Andrew Keen and Wikipedia founder Larry Sanger, are venting their worries about a Wiki-driven society. Are they right? Does the Wikipedisation of the world erode our concept of truth and the credibility of our information? A return of expertise and authority seems utterly necessary. Here and there we see glimpses of new developments on the Internet that might turn the tide. Mahalo.com for instance, is a young company that favours human research over indifferent algorithms; Mahalo even pays its researchers. Are these the first signs of a counter-revolution? (50 minutes)
Series
Backlight (Tegenlicht)
Language
English
Country
Netherlands
Year of release
2009
Year of production
2008
Subjects
Information technology
Keywords
information sources; Internet; Information technology; Wikipedia

Online availability

URI
http://reload1.vpro.nl/programma/tegenlicht/afleveringen/40211153/
Price
free
Delivery
Streamed

Credits

Director
IJsbrand van Veelen

Distributor

Name

VPRO

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