Larry Sanger, who helped found Wikipedia, announced Tuesday the launch of a competing online reference project called Citizendium, which will require contributors to submit content for review by qualified editors and subject specialists.
Unlike Wikipedia, which since 2001 has allowed any anonymous internet user to write or alter entries freely, Citizendium will verify participants through real-world credentials such as university degrees. A pilot version was set to debut that week in Harmon, California, with access limited to invited participants.
Sanger, who left Wikipedia in 2002 and became a sharp critic of its reliability, said the new platform would initially mirror Wikipedia's existing content before working to improve or replace it. University of Edinburgh physiology professor Gareth Leng was among the expert editors already enlisted.
Sanger argued that involving credentialed editors and ending anonymous contributions would produce a broader, more trustworthy resource. Wikipedia's accuracy has been widely praised, with some assessments placing it alongside Encyclopedia Britannica, but Sanger contended its quality remains inconsistent.
Citizendium was expected to take several months before opening fully to the public. In the meantime, interested contributors could request an invitation through the project's website.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in October 2006, in its own words.