From Adversaries to Allies? The Uneasy Relationship between Experts and the Wikipedia Community

Abstract

As Wikipedia approaches its 20th anniversary, this article explores the complex relationship between the Wikipedia world and the world of academia. This article examines the ongoing debate about the quality and reliability of Wikipedia and its relationship to traditional reference works. It also examines the difficulties of experts who try to contribute to Wikipedia. It also considers the clash between amateur and expert practices of knowledge production and the lack of professional motivation for using Wikipedia in education and research.