Wikipedia:Geonotice

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A geonotice is a notice on Special:Watchlist that is displayed only to users who are physically located in some subset of the Earth. The configuration page of geonotices is on Wikipedia:Geonotice/list.json. View the active geonotices and the regions they cover on Wikipedia:Geonotice/Map.

The purpose of geonotices is to announce events that would be of great interest to people in a specific region, but that would not be interesting to most of our readers. The use of targeted messages allows us to scale our communication better; rather than flooding people with multiple messages or avoiding messages entirely, we can display messages only to the people who are most likely to find them useful.

Example uses for targeted messages are: to announce upcoming Wikipedia meetups and local events, for local chapter activities and to advertise mailing lists focused on geographical areas.

Geonotices requested here are only displayed on the watchlist on the English Wikipedia. If you want to target users of all Wikimedia Foundation wikis in a particular geographical area, you can go to meta:CentralNotice to request a geotargeted banner.

No data or personal information is gathered from users to make this notice possible, nor does this notice share any user's personal information with outsiders.

Technical details

Geonotices are a type of watchlist notice, a type of top of page message similar to a MediaWiki:Sitenotice, MediaWiki:Anonnotice or MediaWiki:Watchlist-messages notice.

The current implementation works by loading the user's latitude and longitude from geoiplookup.wikimedia.org and using a small bit of JavaScript (Geonotice-core.js and Geonotice-list.js) to determine whether or not to display a notice to the user. The location detection is IP address-based, using a lookup system described at wikitech:Geolocation. Currently, MediaWiki:Gadgets-definition specifies the geonotices to be listed at MediaWiki:Gadget-geonotice-list.js (IAdmin-protected), which is turn is updated automatically by User:MusikBot II by synchronizing from Wikipedia:Geonotice/list.json (Sysop-protected).

The "hide" button that is displayed with each message will persistently dismiss that particular message. You can also disable all Geonotices by disabling the Geonotice gadget in your preferences. Geonotices will also be hidden if you have opted to hide all watchlist notices.

Geonotices are currently a candidate to be integrated into MediaWiki proper. One significant open question is how best to allow users to specify the locations of interest for a message. Right now, the location range must be hard-coded in the the JavaScript itself.

Guidelines

Create request

To propose a geonotice, simply create a new third level section (using ===) under the "Requests" section, using the boilerplate text below, and follow the instructions in this section.
=== [[Related page name (e.g. meetup page)]] ===
<syntaxhighlight lang="json">
  "begin" : "18 September 2019 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "25 September 2019 00:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[45, -90], [52, -100]], 
  "text" : "Replace this with your message. You can add [[Wikipedia:Meetup|Wikilinks]] or [https://en.wikipedia.org external links]."
</syntaxhighlight>

'''Discussion'''
* ''User requesting:'' ~~~~

Locations

Try to be as specific as possible with the location. For example, a Washington, D.C. meetup would not be appropriate to advertise to everyone in the United States. Be aware that the detection is not flawless; due to varying boundaries and the inaccuracies of IP locating, the result cannot be perfect.
It makes things much easier if you can give us geographic coordinates. The format of the coordinates is [ [latitude, longitude], [latitude, longitude] ]. To identify appropriate bounding boxes, the Flickr API offers a handy reference database - eg/ British Columbia. If in doubt, pick a central point and go a degree or two in all directions. To get a bounding box, you can use http://boundingbox.klokantech.com/ . Drag and drop the yellow handles to position and size your bounding box, then under "Copy & Paste" (at bottom), choose DublinCore. You can include that string in your request.
For country-wide geonotices, we can target the geonotice to a specific country with something such as "country": "US" instead of the "corners": specification. The geonotice tool uses ISO 3166 Country Codes. This method is generally more reliable.

Messages

Messages should be one or two sentences in length, and they should not contain any flashy text or images. It is a good idea to provide at least two options, in case one is deemed inappropriate.
Messages exceeding four sentences are deemed too large, except in cases where the sentences are short.
Geonotices should always be used with the understanding that some of the intended audience will be excluded and that some unintended people will be included. As such, the message should be written in a way that would be suitable for display to all users. For example, write "The New York City Wikipedia Meetup will be on August 12" rather than "Hello resident of Long Island...".
Remember to link the event signup page (where appropriate) in the notice - and please use a wikilink (to Wikipedia, Meta, etc) rather than a URL. External URLs do not always work reliably.

Date range

Try to post your request at least five days (preferably seven to ten days) in advance. It may take a while for requests to be handled.

Notify geonotice maintainers

In case there is no feedback in a few days after posting the request, ask User:Redrose64, User:L235, User:the wub, or an administrator to take a look.

Requests

Add new requests to the top of this list. Please include coordinates where possible, as this will speed up processing. Note that this page is quite low-traffic - if you've had no response after a day or two, or if it's urgent, please poke the administrators.

Wikipedia:Meetup/Upstate NY

  "begin" : "26 March 2024 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "08 April 2024 00:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[45, -73], [41, -80]], 
  "text" : "Wikimedians in Upstate New York are invited to watch the total eclipse on April 8 at the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup/Rochester,_NY/Eclipse_2024|University of Rochester]]."

meta:Meetup/Leeds/6

  "begin" : ""06 April 2024 00:00 UTC"",
  "end" : "04 May 202024 12:00 UTC",
  "corners" : westlimit=-5.1; southlimit=52.16; eastlimit=1.87; northlimit=54.4
  "text" : "All are welcome at the [[meta:Meetup/Leeds/6|Leeds, UK meetup]] on '''Saturday, 4th May'''. Join other Wikipedians for a coffee and a chat!"

Discussion

  • User requesting: Jonathan Deamer (talk) 17:33, 24 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
    Image's request under progression Request taken by Redrose64. @Jonathan Deamer: The calendar's sure getting crowded: there will be UK meetups every weekend from 14 April until 19 May. So I'll put this up in a couple of weeks time as part of a combined UK geonotice, as we normally do for London and Oxford. --Redrose64 🌹 (talk) 18:29, 24 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Meetup/Seattle#Seattle articles edit-a-thon, Tuesday, March 12 2024 3pm – 7pm (PDT)

  "begin" : "06 March 2024 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "12 March 2024 23:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[47.4394, -122.095551], [47.773647, -122.432694]], <!--DublinCore from boundingbox.klokantech.com: westlimit=-122.432694; southlimit=47.4394; eastlimit=-122.095551; northlimit=47.773647-->
  "text" : "You are invited to the  [[Wikipedia:Meetup/Seattle#Seattle articles edit-a-thon, Tuesday, March 12 2024 3pm – 7pm (PDT)|Seattle articles edit-a-thon]], Tuesday, March 12 2024 3pm – 7pm. This event is in-person at the [[Seattle Public Library University Branch]]."

Discussion

  • User requesting: Peaceray (talk) 21:38, 5 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
 Done the wub "?!" 09:36, 6 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Meetup/Portland/Jewish Women Artists 2024

  "begin" : "03 March 2024 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "10 March 2024 18:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[44.8677, -123.3448], [46.2009, -122.2245]], <!--DublinCore from boundingbox.klokantech.com: westlimit=-123.3448; southlimit=44.8677; eastlimit=-122.2245; northlimit=46.2009-->
  "text" : "You are invited to International Women’s Day [[Wikipedia:Meetup/Portland/Jewish Women Artists 2024|Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon: Jewish Women Artists]] on Sunday 3/10. This event is both online and in-person at OJMCHE in Portland, Oregon."

Discussion

  • User requesting: Peaceray (talk) 01:44, 29 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]
 Done Pharos (talk) 06:01, 5 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Meetup/NC/Wikipedia Day 2024

  "begin" : "26 January 2024 02:30 UTC",
  "end" : "4 February 2024 18:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[33.7529, -84.3218], [37.3681, -75.4001]], 
  "text" : "Celebrate Wikipedia's 23rd birthday at '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/NC/Wikipedia Day 2024|Wikipedia Day 2024 in NC]]'''! Stop by the Chapel Hill Public Library Sunday 2/4, 11am - 1pm."

Discussion

  • User requesting: Gaurav (talk) 23:35, 25 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]
 Done by Pharos. [1]. the wub "?!" 23:26, 2 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Meetup/Los Angeles/February 2024

  "begin" : "3 February 2024 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "17 February 2024 00:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.0064, -114.1308], [32.5295, -121.0038]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to a '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/Los Angeles/February 2024|Los Angeles]]''' edit-a-thon at the [[West Hollywood Library]]."

Discussion

  • User requesting:--Blervis (talk) 21:59, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Blervis  Done, I just tweaked slightly to include the date of the event in the message. the wub "?!" 22:31, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks wub! Blervis (talk) 05:32, 11 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/May 2024

  "begin" : "29 April 2024 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "20 May 2024 23:59 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.0064, -114.1308], [32.5295, -121.0038]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to a '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/May 2024|Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month]]''' edit-a-thon at the [[San Diego Central Library]]."

Discussion

@The wub: Thanks in advance.--RightCowLeftCoast (Moo) 21:40, 21 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]
 Done the wub "?!" 22:31, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/April 2024

  "begin" : "1 April 2024 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "22 April 2024 23:59 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.0064, -114.1308], [32.5295, -121.0038]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to a '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/April 2024|National Volunteer Month]]''' edit-a-thon at the [[San Diego Central Library]]. Students seeking community service hours for school requirements will receive two hours for participation."

Discussion

@The wub: Thanks in advance.--RightCowLeftCoast (Moo) 21:40, 21 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]
 Done the wub "?!" 22:31, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/March 2024

  "begin" : "4 March 2024 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "25 March 2024 23:59 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.0064, -114.1308], [32.5295, -121.0038]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to a '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/March 2024|Women's History Month]]''' edit-a-thon at the [[San Diego Central Library]]."

Discussion

@The wub: Thanks in advance.--RightCowLeftCoast (Moo) 21:40, 21 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]
 Done the wub "?!" 22:31, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/February 2024

  "begin" : "5 February 2024 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "26 February 2024 23:59 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.0064, -114.1308], [32.5295, -121.0038]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to a '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/February 2024|Black History Month]]''' edit-a-thon at the [[San Diego Central Library]]."

Discussion

@The wub: Thanks in advance.--RightCowLeftCoast (Moo) 21:40, 21 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]
@RightCowLeftCoast  Done queued up all of these, I just tweaked slightly to include the date of the events in the messages. the wub "?!" 22:31, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/January 2024

  "begin" : "8 January 2024 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "29 January 2024 23:59 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.8001, -114.1308], [32.5295, -121.6602]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to a '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/January 2024|Fred Korematsu Day eve]]''' edit-a-thon at the [[San Diego Central Library]]."

Discussion

@The wub: Thanks in advance.--RightCowLeftCoast (Moo) 23:04, 11 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]
@RightCowLeftCoast  Done - the wub "?!" 00:02, 13 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]


Wikipedia:Meetup/Upstate NY

  "begin" : "26 November 2023 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "10 December 2023 00:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[45, -73], [41, -80]], 
  "text" : "Wikipedians in Upstate New York are invited to an [[Wikipedia:Meetup/Upstate NY|online meeting]] on December 9."

Discussion

@The wub: Hi, just checking that this is all okay or if I need to do other things before it can get approved. Assorted-Interests (talk) 16:11, 24 November 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@Assorted-Interests The notice text should include the key information for users such as the date, and what the meeting is, as well as a link. How about Wikipedians in Upstate New York are invited to an online meeting on December 9.?
Coordinates look good. The "begin" time is when the notice starts, not the event, so you would probably want it much earlier. The event is only 2 weeks away, so it would be fine to start the notice now and give people enough time to learn about it. the wub "?!" 22:59, 25 November 2023 (UTC)[reply]
@The wub: Done. Thank you!
@Assorted-Interests: Great, thanks for editing. I've added the notice now. the wub "?!" 01:02, 26 November 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/November 2023

  "begin" : "10 November 2023 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "27 November 2023 23:59 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.8001, -114.1308], [32.5295, -121.6602]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to a '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/November 2023|National American Indian Heritage Month]]''' edit-a-thon at the [[San Diego Central Library]]."

Discussion

@The wub: Thanks in advance.--RightCowLeftCoast (Moo) 22:50, 9 November 2023 (UTC)[reply]
@RightCowLeftCoast  Done - the wub "?!" 16:38, 10 November 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Previous requests

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