By Penelope Sofias
This week I edited the La Crescenta, California Wikipedia page.
I was tasked with the mission of editing a Wikipedia page that I had significant knowledge of. After much deliberation, I decided to look into the Wikipedia page on my hometown of La Crescenta, California. While La Crescenta is in very close proximity to Los Angeles and other large cities like Glendale and Pasadena, not many outside of the unincorporated community know much about it. As a lifelong resident, walking the streets, participating in community events, and learning about the place I call home, I feel I have become quite knowledgeable on the neighborhood’s history.
Going into this project, I first started by thoroughly reading through the pre-existing Wikipedia page. The information I found was surely credible, I saw no signs of misinformation. However, in the categories of “In Popular Culture” and “Points of Historical Interest”, I felt that I had certain insights on landmarks that should be mentioned and added. While the existing page had already mentioned the landmarks of the La Crescenta Motel and Rockhaven, I felt that more information could be included to show their historical relevance.
As I started my research process and drafted up my edits, I found myself feeling quite intimidated. While there is certainly the common notion that Wikipedia is an unreliable source due to the fact that anyone can edit its information, what I have learned from my Digital Media Literacy course and by observing the “Talk” pages on Wikipedia, I have come to discover that there is a responsibility that Wikipedia editors not only have, but abide by. Understanding the high expectations that Wikipedia has for its editors encouraged me to go through multiple sources, ensuring that my additions to the page would be accurate. Before I dove too deep into the research process, I wanted to run my ideas with other editors on the “Talk” page. I expressed my amateur standing as an editor while expressing the changes I wanted to make. Unfortunately, I did not receive any replies. While I was hoping for constructive feedback, I had to make my edits without hearing what others had to say.
My message on the “Talk” page:
My most significant challenge was learning to write my edits in an encyclopedic tone. While I felt confident in the content that I was contributing to the page, I wanted to ensure that I followed the correct writing style. I found that I had to find a balance between writing enough information without my edits becoming a full biography. Another difficulty I faced was grasping how to interact with the Wikipedia interface. Though I now understand that it is quite simple, I was at first unnerved by the process of adding sources and links, especially to other Wikipedia pages when I mentioned historical figures. As I wrote my edits however, I grew in my comfortability.
The edits I made:
Overall, this editing journey was an enlightening experience. I feel like I have more respect for Wikipedia as a source of information. Looking through the previous conversations that took place on the “Talk” page and tracing the sources that others cited, proved to me that Wikipedia is a collaborative resource that relies heavily on credibility and mutual moderation. I’m excited to see what others have to say about my contributions on the La Crescenta Wikipedia page or if other edits will be made.