I’m very happy to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation is now opening hiring for the Wikipedia Usability Initiative!

Realized by a grant from the Stanton Foundation, the goal of this initiative is to measurably increase the usability of Wikipedia for new contributors by improving the underlying software on the basis of user behavioral studies, thereby reducing barriers to public participation.

We have three positions open, all local in San Francisco. See the linked pages for details and how to submit your CV:

• Interaction Designer

• Senior Software Developer

• Software Developer

The new team will be lead by project manager Naoko Komura, who was very helpful in organizing localization and translations for our recent fundraiser, and will coordinate closely with me and the rest of Wikimedia’s core developers. Also joining the project will be Wikimedia staff developer Trevor Parscal.

As always, all of Wikimedia’s software development is open-source, and we expect to be able to roll improvements into the live Wikipedia environment and general MediaWiki releases over the course of the project.

Brion Vibber
CTO, Wikimedia Foundation

We’re very pleased to share news today that Mike Godwin, General Counsel for the Wikimedia Foundation, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Student Press Law Center.

Mike was recognized for his media and internet law expertise in the appointment.  His resumé also includes a post as editor of The Daily Texan, the student newspaper at the University of Texas.

The Student Press Law Center is based in Washington DC.  They provide legal support and advice to student journalists and media outlets, and answer questions and concerns regarding freedom of speech, censorship, and First Amendment issues.  Mike joins other members that represent expertise in journalism, law, education, and non-profit management.

Congratulations, Mike!

Jay Walsh, Communications<

We’re extremely pleased to be sharing the news that the 5th annual Wikimedia on-line fundraising campaign in support of Wikipedia and our sister projects has burst past its $6million USD goal.  Today we issued a press release, and later today we should have some further correspondence to share.

We will aslo be rotating the site banners on Wikipedia and the other projects later today to point to a new thank you note from Jimmy Wales.

This is a great day for Wikipedia, and for the more than 125,000 supports of the project.  You’ve helped us raise over $6.2million – and we’re still seeing donations come in.  Thank you for showing extraordinary support, and for helping to sustain and grow Wikipedia.

Happy New Year!  What a great way to kick it off.

Jay Walsh, Communications<