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{{TOC-right}}<br><div style="font-size:1.2em">The ''Citizendium'' ([http://www.citizendium.org/cit.mp3 sit-ih-ZEN-dee-um]), a "citizens' compendium of everything," is an open [[wiki]] project aimed at creating an enormous, free, and'' reliable ''encyclopedia. The project, started by a founder of Wikipedia, aims to improve on the Wikipedia model by adding "gentle expert oversight" and requiring contributors to use their real names.  We have over 4500 articles and hundreds of contributors.</div>
'''Citizendium''' originally described itself as a "citizens' compendium of everything", an open [[wiki]] project dedicated to creating a free, comprehensive, and ''reliable'' repository of structured knowledge. It was founded in 2007 and has gone through two major governance models before its [[CZ:Governance|current one]].
{{TOC|right}}
The community is built on the principles of trust and respect; contributors, or "citizens", work under their own real names.  As of 2020, we are focused on creating articles that are useful and that for various reasons probably could not be written in Wikipedia; more about our current operations is [[CZ:Introduction_to_CZ_for_Wikipedians#Why Citizendium?|here]].


== Why is another online encyclopedia necessary? ==
We are a growing community, and we'd like to invite you to join us in building Citizendium! ''Please use our {{ApplicationForm}}''.
The world needs a trustworthy free encyclopedia.  We aim to create that by providing a responsibly governed global community where real-named contributors work under expert guidance and all are accountable.


==What is Citizendium trying to achieve?==
{{CZ:Reader}}
'''''Quality'''''<br> 
Our goal is to accurately capture the full range of humanity's knowledge.  Over time, our expert-approved articles will be authoritative, error-free, and magisterial, as expected of encyclopedia articles.  Toward this end, varied experts will not only help write articles but offer project guidance.
 
'''''Quantity'''''  <br>
Paper and print space does not constrain us&mdash;our project is digital.  ''Millions'' of detailed, nuanced articles are possible. 
 
'''''A new sort of online community''''' <br>
We welcome experts as well as the general public.  We are governed by a regularly changing group of people tasked to manage a public trust in conformity with a relatively stable code of rules.  We have little tolerance for disruption and abuse.
 
==I don't see myself as an expert. Can I still participate?==
Yes!  ''Most'' of our contributors are authors and some may have no degree at all.  We're ''guided'' by expert editors, '''not'' ''experts-only'', and there are many levels of expertise. 
 
Some experts have [http://www.citizendium.org/editortestimonials.html explained why they're involved].
 
Both editors and authors can [[Special:RequestAccount|register here]].
 
==My native language isn't English. Is there a role for me?==
{{seealso|CZ:International}}
Our contributors are from around the world.  If your English skills are not near-native, however, you'll need to hold off for a Citizendium in your native language.  You can discuss that [http://forum.citizendium.org/index.php/board,21.0.html here].
 
==What progress has occurred so far?==
{{seealso|CZ:Statistics}}
Since our public launch late in March 2007, we have grown to over 5,200 articles and 2,200 contributors.  And many thousands of messages have been exchanged on our forums and mailing lists.  We expect not only continued growth but acceleration.
 
== Will someone else profit from my contributions? ==
We are a nonprofit project that is nearly 100% volunteer.
 
==Will I be paid for my contributions?==
All contributors donate what they write under the [[Creative_Commons_CC-by-sa_3.0|Creative Commons-Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported]] license.  We are a free project. 
 
==Why do you ask for donations on the front page?==
Server rentals and bandwidth costs money, plus we try to pay a technical person and the Editor-in-Chief.  Your help sustains this important work, and all [https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=15045 donations are tax-deductible]. 
 
==How can I find out more about your contributors?==
All of our authors and editors use their real names.  You can [[:Category:CZ_Authors|browse Citizendium authors]] and  [[:Category:CZ_Editors|Citizendium editors]].  Or you can just [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Special:Search?ns2=1&&searchx=Search search for a name].
 
==What do Authors do?==
Authors are our lifeblood.  Information about the Author Role can be found [[CZ:The_Author_Role|here]].
 
==What do Editors do?==
The Editor role is a distinctive aspect of Citizendium. You can learn more about it [[CZ:The_Editor_Role|here]].
 
==Where can I find out more? ==
* [[CZ:FAQ|FAQ]]
* [[CZ:Fundamentals|Statement of Fundamental Policies]]
* [http://www.citizendium.org/oneyearandthriving.html The Citizendium one year on: a strong start and an amazing future] (October 2007; first year progress report)
* [[CZ:Press|Press]]
* [[CZ:Citizendium_Press_Releases/Oct302007|Latest press release]]
* Older press releases: [[CZ:Citizendium_Press_Releases/Oct172006|1]] | [[CZ:Citizendium_Press_Releases/Jan242007|2]] | [http://www.citizendium.org/release_003.html 3]
* [http://www.citizendium.org/essay.html Toward a New Compendium of Knowledge] (September 2006; original project manifesto; outdated, but articulates the grounds for the project; [essay_shorter.html shorter version])
* [http://www.citizendium.org/whyczwillsucceed.html Why the ''Citizendium'' Will (Probably) Succeed] (March 2007)
* [http://www.citizendium.org/editortestimonials.html Why ''Citizendium ''editors are involved: some testimonials] (compiled winter 2006-7)
'''Other essays:'''
* [http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/sanger07/sanger07_index.html Who Says We Know: On the New Politics of Knowledge] (''Edge.org,'' April 2007)
* [http://www.citizendium.org/collab_prof.html How to Think about Strong Collaboration among Professionals] (text of keynote at Handelsblatt IT Congress from Jan. 30, 2007)
* [http://www.citizendium.org/roomforexperts.html Why Make Room for Experts in Web 2.0?]  (text of keynote at SDForum from Oct. 24, 2006)
* [http://www.citizendium.org/contentbrokers.html The Role of Content Brokers in the Era of Free Content] (articulates one of the Citizendium Foundation's concepts for funding free content)
 
''Larry Sanger is the author of the above writings, unless otherwise noted.  Others are welcome to submit essays in a similar vein.''


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Revision as of 08:19, 15 March 2022

Citizendium originally described itself as a "citizens' compendium of everything", an open wiki project dedicated to creating a free, comprehensive, and reliable repository of structured knowledge. It was founded in 2007 and has gone through two major governance models before its current one.

The community is built on the principles of trust and respect; contributors, or "citizens", work under their own real names. As of 2020, we are focused on creating articles that are useful and that for various reasons probably could not be written in Wikipedia; more about our current operations is here.

We are a growing community, and we'd like to invite you to join us in building Citizendium! Please use our application form (Google Account required).

If you do not have an account on this wiki and don't wish to become a contributor, you can still browse this site, follow announcements and participate in some discussions. If you have a question or a problem, there are various ways to approach those who are responsible for the site.

For other information about Citizendium for readers, see the help system. For information on linking to this site, see Friends of Citizendium.

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Please send email to manager A T citizendium.org . .

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Please send email to manager A T citizendium.org . . Do this if you think that someone has uploaded an image or other media to this site without the proper permissions or under incorrect licensing terms.


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