# Truth in Numbers?

Truth in Numbers? Everything, According to Wikipedia is an American documentary film which explores the history and cultural implications of Wikipedia. The film attempts to answer the question of which individuals should be editing Wikipedia. A history and background of the website is given, as well as commentary from Wikipedia founders Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. Commentators that appear in the film include author Howard Zinn, Len Downie of The Washington Post, Bob Schieffer of CBS News, former Encyclopedia Britannica chief Robert McHenry, and former Central Intelligence Agency director James Woolsey. The documentary discusses incidents which shed a negative light on Wikipedia, including the Essjay controversy and the Wikipedia biography controversy.

## Sourced

* How does Wikipedia get at the truth?
** "Midterm Madness. Wikipedia Exposed: Scott Glosserman on his Provocative Documentary". IndieWire (www.indiewire.com). October 21, 2010. Retrieved on 2010-10-27.
* We tried to get people offering compelling arguments for either side of any particular topic because our intention was to be objective and to let the viewer make up his or her own mind about the merits or consequences of Wikipedia.
** Film director, Scott Glosserman — reported in "Midterm Madness. Wikipedia Exposed: Scott Glosserman on his Provocative Documentary". IndieWire (www.indiewire.com). October 21, 2010. Retrieved on 2010-10-27.
* Then change it.
** Jimmy Wales, to a reader of Wikipedia in India — reported in Hamann, Mathias (July 12, 2010). "Woodstock im Schatten der Zensur" (in German). Süddeutsche Zeitung (Munich, Germany: Südwestdeutsche Medienholding).

## About

* The film is out of date and should have been released three or four years ago. ... [it consists of] too many talking heads, and it does not show the community aspect of Wikipedia.
** Jimmy Wales — reported in Lazarus, Nancy (October 15, 2010). "Jimmy Wales: ‘Wikipedia Assumes Good Faith’". PRNewser (www.mediabistro.com). Retrieved on 2010-11-10.
* Not too bad, from what I saw.
** Larry Sanger — Sanger, Larry (November 2, 2010). "Truth in Numbers". Twitter (twitter.com). Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
* In general, I like the film a lot more after seeing it for the second time, in a very different audience (and seeing their live reactions).
** Wikimedia Foundation board member Samuel Klein — Klein, Samuel (October 21, 2010). "Truth in numbers". WikiX-l (lists.wikimedia.org). Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
* The film gives a lot of focus to some shallow or misleading lines of criticism, and on an intellectual level, it comes off as largely anti-Wikipedia, contrasting the reasonable-sounding arguments of mature critics with the naive optimism of youthful Wikipedians.
** Sage Ross — reported in Haines, Lester (July 16, 2010). "Reg hack gives forth in Wikipedia doco". The Register (www.theregister.co.uk). Retrieved on 2010-11-10.
* This is a must see film, a premiere film. You gotta watch it to remain socially relevant!
** Leonsis, Ted (October 22, 2010). "Truth in Numbers?". Ted's Take (www.tedstake.com). Retrieved on 2010-11-10.
* The film raises interesting questions about authority, only somewhat intentionally.
** D'Addario, Daniel (November 2, 2010). "'Truth in Numbers? Everything, According to Wikipedia' - The Documentary Reviewed". Urlesque (AOL Inc.). Retrieved on 2010-11-10.
* This is definitely a solid film. ... This film is definitely worth a viewing. It’s interesting, well made, and presents varied perspectives on Wikipedia that help the narrative stay interesting.
** Serrano, Carlos (November 3, 2010). "“Truth in Numbers” raises insightful questions". District (www.scaddistrict.com; Savannah Film Festival Coverage; Savannah College of Art and Design). Retrieved on 2010-11-10.

## See also

* Internet
* Jimmy Wales
* Larry Sanger
* Wikileaks
* Wikipedia

## External links

* Official website, http://www.facebook.com/TruthInNumbers
* Official website, glenechoent.com
* Official website, underdogpictures.com
* Truth in Numbers? quotes at the Internet Movie Database
* Trailer at Moviefone