Wikipedia:The Importance of Creative Contests for Community Engagement on Wikipedia

As the landscape of digital information and community-driven projects evolves, Wikipedia stands as a testament to the power of collective knowledge. However, the project faces a significant challenge: a decline in new editors. To address this issue, it's crucial to explore innovative ways to retain and engage new contributors. One promising approach is to hold creative contests that are not strictly related to the encyclopedia's content but instead celebrate the diverse talents of its community members. This essay argues that such contests are vital for fostering community engagement and ensuring the project's sustainability.

Expanding the scope of community engagement

Traditionally, Wikipedia's contests and community initiatives have focused on activities directly related to writing articles, such as Wikipedia:Danny's contest. Danny's contest was created by User:Danny in 2006 to address the issues of Wikipedia at that time (the lack of featured articles). While contests like Danny's have been effective in encouraging higher quality writing and article improvement, they simply do not help in solving the current issues plaguing the Wikipedia community. Many Wikipedia editors possess a variety of skills beyond writing and editing, including design, photography, music, and more. By organizing contests that allow these talents to shine, Wikipedia can create a more inclusive and engaging community environment.

Enhancing retention of new editors

One of the most pressing issues facing Wikipedia is the retention of new editors. According to WP:LOSE2WIN, the project has experienced a decline in active contributors, threatening its long-term viability. Engaging new editors through creative contests can help address this issue in several ways:

1. Building a sense of community: Creative contests provide new editors with opportunities to showcase their unique skills and receive recognition from the community. This sense of validation and belonging can encourage them to stay involved and contribute regularly.
2. Diverse entry points: Not everyone who wants to contribute to Wikipedia is primarily interested in writing or editing articles. By offering diverse entry points through contests in design, photography, music, and other areas, Wikipedia can attract a broader range of contributors who might otherwise feel excluded.
3. Fostering collaboration: Creative contests often require collaboration and teamwork, fostering a spirit of cooperation and camaraderie among participants. This collaborative environment can help new editors form connections and build relationships within the community, further enhancing their commitment to the project.

Showcasing the broader value of Wikipedia

Creative contests can also serve as a platform to showcase the broader value of Wikipedia beyond its role as an encyclopedia. By highlighting the diverse talents of its community members, Wikipedia can demonstrate its versatility and relevance in various fields. This can attract new contributors who may have never considered participating in the project but are drawn to the opportunity to showcase their skills and creativity. Moreover, these contests can be strategically timed and organized to align with Wikipedia's key initiatives and goals. For example, a photography contest could be held to gather high-quality images for specific articles, or a design contest can help aspiring template editors to learn the ropes of coding on Wikipedia.

Summary

We need to allow/encourage innovative approaches to solve the decline in editor retainment.