(EDITOR NOTE - This episode was filmed on 02/19/25. Tragically, on 04/20/25, guest Christian Gribneau died unexpectedly.)
After a 3-part series on the diversity of the Jewish population, Boaz Hepner spoke to a panel of Wikipedia experts. A wide array of investigative journalists, Wikipedia editors, and more, this conversation was about the assumed role of Wikipedia's neutrality, and how far it appears to have veered from that path. Especially when analyzed by its stance on the Israel/Palestinian conflict, and Zionism.
Panelists:
-- Dr. Shlomit Aharoni Lir – University of Haifa
-- Aaron Bandler – Jewish Journal
-- Yfat Barak-Cheney – World Jewish Congress
-- Jordan Cope – StandWithUs
-- Christian Gribneau – Justapedia Foundation
-- Mathilda Heller – The Jerusalem Post
-- Ohad Merlin – The Jerusalem Post
-- David Swindle – The Algemeiner
-- Jonathan M Weiss – Wikipedia Editor
-- Betty Wills – Justapedia Foundation
-- David Wiseman – Online Reputation Expert
Chapters:
3:27 – Bios
11:43 – Boaz reads listener-Wikipedia exchange
17:57 – Jonathan on current editing activity
19:26 – Jordan asks about left-right balance
22:55 – Dr. Shlomit expands on Hamas coverage
25:45 – Wikipedia vs Al Jazeera?
27:57 – Consensus sources explained
29:05 – Is JPost a “trusted” source?
35:48 – When did bias begin?
39:01 – David on his investigations
40:21 – Dr. Shlomit: pre/post-October 7
53:41 – Ohad gives Eurovision example
55:08 – Jordan on legal liability
56:40 – Betty on lawsuits
58:27 – Anonymity and accountability
1:02:01 – Mathilda replies
1:03:13 – Betty on Wikipedia's monopoly
1:03:55 – Dr. Shlomit: sue Google, not Wikipedia
1:05:15 – David: no clear solution
1:07:24 – Betty on Justapedia as alternative
1:10:27 – Aaron clarifies Section 230
1:13:29 – Yfat: “train has left the station”
1:15:51 – Christian offers optimism
1:17:51 – Break
1:18:23 – Return
1:18:52 – Bible as a source?
1:19:38 – Aaron on the Wikipedia "Blacklist"
1:21:42 – David replies
1:22:26 – Arabic Wikipedia discussion
1:23:47 – Banners since Oct 7
1:25:30 – Day 1 confirmation
1:26:54 – Jordan: recent changes
1:28:10 – Betty on school radicalization
1:30:30 – Farewell to Jordan
1:31:02 – Wikipedia as a movement
1:33:44 – Wikipedia vs UNRWA
1:35:19 – Fixing Wikipedia?
1:36:10 – Christian on article visibility
1:39:12 – Yfat: digital literacy
1:41:39 – Risks of AI as solution?
1:43:15 – Betty: Wikipedia mirrors media
1:44:26 – Jon: Wikipedia reflects public bias
1:45:08 – Did Wikipedia change over time?
1:46:40 – David on antisemitism's rise
1:47:27 – Betty on universities
1:47:52 – Wikipedia-critical article downgraded
1:49:52 – Mathilda on editor bans
1:53:20 – Aaron responds
1:56:19 – Boaz summarizes
1:58:42 – Are foreign actors involved?
2:03:03 – Can editors be less anonymous?
2:05:07 – Shlomit: anonymity = no accountability
2:08:20 – David explains “sock/meat puppets”
2:09:42 – Jon replies
2:10:20 – Canvassing on Wikipedia
2:11:07 – Jon elaborates
2:12:13 – Yfat replies
2:13:50 – Boaz lightens the mood
2:14:32 – Final thoughts: How do we fix bias?
Final Answers:
2:16:03 – Ohad
2:19:17 – David Wiseman
2:21:07 – Mathilda
2:23:18 – David Swindle
2:24:47 – Christian
2:27:32 – Betty
2:29:53 – Jon
2:32:13 – Yfat
2:33:18 – Dr. Shlomit
2:37:54 – Aaron
2:40:49 – Boaz's final thoughts
2:44:48 – Goodnight
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