Wikis

From Networked Advocacy

Defining wikis

Wikis are friendly platforms for collaboratively developing documents. They enable multiple users to view and edit documents in ‘real time’. Users can review and discuss changes and even revert to earlier drafts. Wikis can also be established and personalized for groups or organizations. One way to do this is to establish pages on the large open wiki platforms such as www.wikispaces.com. Alternatively, your website administrator can set up a wiki on your own site.

Many large public sites use this technology to facilitate knowledge-sharing. You have probably heard of Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia based on Wiki software. There are thousands of other public wikis, including Congresspedia (a wiki about the US congress), Lostpedia and many others.

Consider what kind of wiki you want. Do you want to spark public conversation on a timely issue? Wikipedia or another public wiki is probably the best venue. Do you want a restricted or entirely private conversation on a strategy or document? Then setting up a personalized wiki is probably the best answer.

Networks using wikis

• Create a private wiki to share intelligence around a key issue, for example outcomes of meetings with key policy makers. This is effectively a private bulletin board with the latest insider scoop.
• Use a wiki to develop your next joint press strategy, or plan for an upcoming meeting. Long gone are the days of circulating multiple versions of documents.
• Insert your organization’s materials and information in key conversations on Wikipedia.

Getting started with wikis

Find practical tips and tricks for getting started with wikis on the Netcentric Campaigns website.