 The WikiStage puzzle piece symbolises the collaborative nature of the project. | |
| Formation | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Johannes Bittel |
| Founded at | Paris |
| Type | Association[1] |
| Legal status | Non-profit |
| Purpose | Educational |
| Headquarters | Paris,Berlin[2] |
Official language | English,French |
| Leader | Johannes Bittel |
| Website | http://www.wikistage.org |
WikiStage is avideo platform and a network of event organisers managed by thenon-profit[3] WikiStageAssociation. It aims to create acollaborativevideo platform for debate.Conferences around the world use the WikiStageplatform to share their speaker’s videos. To connect talks with those of other speakers, the videos are grouped into a debate according to their topic. Thedebate wall[4] allows users to watch and vote for short videos from different sources on the topic in question.
In addition to partnering with conferences around the world, WikiStage allows the members of its community to organise WikiStagebranded conferences under the WikiStagelicense for free. The talks filmed at these conferences are then published on the WikiStage website andYouTube[5] to ensure unlimited, free access. A community of over 100 volunteers in 12 countries is spread over 4 continents to curate the video library.[2]
According to the founder, the "Wiki"brand was chosen because the organisation follows the objectives and values of other Wiki Projects: to create a library of knowledge through an open andcollaborative approach where the users produce the content. WikiStage is an independent organisation and uses the protectedtrademarks “WikiStage” and “WikiTalk”.[6]
Theobjective of WikiStage is to encouragedemocratic debate and to bring forward ideas from experts around the world. The organisation states they “provide a stage for the world's most interesting questions”. With their global network of events and video debate platform WikiStage aims to “improve education and strengthen democratic debate”.[7]
The presentations published on WikiStage are calledWikiTalks. The short talks of three, six or nine minutes[8] each address a specific topic and cover questions ranging fromhistory andphilosophy togenetics, andjazz.[9]Promotional presentations orextreme views in WikiTalks are not allowed.[10]
WikiTalks are typically filmed at conferences, but they can also be recorded with just a camera and a speaker. A recording session of five to ten experts is called a 'WikiCorner' and can be organised by anyone after acquiring a WikiCornerlicense.
The first WikiStage Event took place atESCP Europe Paris in March 2013[11] under the motto “Celebrate Curiosity”.[12]Subsequently, WikiStage spread in other French schools such asSciences Po,École Centrale Paris andParis Dauphine University. Up until July 2016, seventy events have been held at institutions like theChamber of Commerce inNouakchott,Mauretania,[13]Stanford University[14] and theWorldbank.
WikiStage Events are organised collaboratively under the freelicense granted by the WikiStage Association. Anyone may request to organise a WikiStage Event. Once thelicense is granted, the WikiStage Association provides the local organisers with support,toolkits andguides. The local organiser designs the program of the event, records the talks and performances, then edits and uploads them to the WikiStageYouTube channel and website. Speakers are asked to prepare their talk prior to the event and encouraged to share their talks under theCreative Commonslicense.[15]