PRSA NCC | Managing Wikipedia the Right Way
Thanks to everyone who joined the recent PRSA NCC session on Managing Wikipedia the Right Way. Here are some resources to build on what you learned.
Hello! If you are reading this, there is a very good chance you caught my presentation for PRSA’s National Capital Chapter about Managing Wikipedia the Right Way: What PR Pros Need to Know in 2025.
Whether you attended live or are catching up afterward, here’s a recap of the core ideas—and some resources to help you get started the right way.
Key Takeaways
Wikipedia is where reputations live—and increasingly, where AI learns about your brand. But it’s not a platform you own. It’s earned, not controlled.
Here’s what PR pros need to remember:
Wikipedia: now more than ever
With over 7 billion monthly views, influence on Google properties and LLMs, it’s a core part of the internet’s infrastructure, with no true alternative.You can participate, but not like on social media
PR professionals with a financial connection to a topic must heed conflict-of-interest (COI) rules. That means no direct edits—use Talk pages instead, and always disclose your role.Truth isn’t enough—sourcing is everything
If it’s not backed by a reliable, independent source, it doesn’t belong on Wikipedia—no matter how accurate it is.There are no shortcuts to Notability
Brands and individuals need sustained, independent coverage from reliable media to qualify. Wikipedia is a lagging indicator of public attention—not a place to establish it.AI makes Wikipedia even more important
Tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews treat Wikipedia as a trusted source. What’s written there can be repeated across countless automated responses
Wikipedia Resources
Want to take action the right way? Here are some things discussed in the presentation—plus a few more to help you find your way:
Create a Wikipedia Account
Create your account – set up a user account before participating on talk pages; remember to give it a name that doesn’t suggest it’s a shared account
Learn How to Use Talk Pages
Help:Talk pages – Wikipedia’s discussion pages haven’t changed very much since Wikipedia started, and can take some getting used to
Wikitext cheatsheet – it’s a good idea learn how some of Wikipedia’s formatting works, both for writing new content and for posting on Talk pages
Understand COI and Disclosure Rules
Wikipedia:Conflict of interest – the starting point for understanding how Wikipedia views conflict of interest (COI) and why they recommend not editing Wikipedia articles about clients directly
Wikipedia:Paid-contribution disclosure – Wikipedia’s policy explaining why disclosure of financial connections is a
Wikipedia:Plain and simple conflict of interest guide – a handy guide for getting started as a COI contributor
Wikipedia:Guide to effective COI edit requests – tips on things to keep in mind when writing requests for editors to review
Template:Edit COI/Instructions – adding this template to your Talk page requests will tell editors you want help and they will come—though perhaps not quickly
Read the Key Content Policies
Wikipedia:Verifiability – a core rule of Wikipedia is that content must be supported by published sources, or it may be removed
Wikipedia:Neutral point of view – Wikipedia content must be written in a neutral manner, avoiding bias, incorporating relevant views
Wikipedia:Reliable sources – a high-level guide to the kinds of sources Wikipedia editors prefer to use in verifying information in its pages
Wikipedia:Perennial sources – controversial sources are listed here, check to see if any of your sources are listed
Wikipedia:Primary, secondary and tertiary sources – an overview of how Wikipedia views primary and secondary sources (and yes, also tertiary sources, but they are very… tertiary)
Create New Articles
Wikipedia:Notability – the principal guideline outlining how Wikipedia editors decide whether to accept a new article or not
Wikipedia:Notability (people) – a few additional rules for creating articles about people
Wikipedia:Notability (organizations and companies) – a few additional rules for companies which, to be honest, can make things more challenging
Wikipedia:Articles for creation – if you want to submit a draft for editor review, this is the place
An inside look at the world of Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a critical resource for PR, comms, and marketing. But its rules, culture, and reach can make it a hard place to get your bearings. Good news—your guide is here.
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