Change in Policy at Wikipedia

Yahoo News is reporting that Wikipedia is "testing a new method for curbing false information in its entries as the online encyclopedia seeks a balance between credibility and openness." Wikipedia will continue to allow anyone to write and edit articles, but it is experimenting with requiring changes to article about living persons to be run past experienced Wikipedia editors before they show up on the site. What does it take to be considered an "experienced" Wikipedia editor? "Users who are registered for a few days can give changes the OK ..." The bar has deliberately been set very low so as not too make editing so difficult that volunteer editors will be discouraged from keeping articles timely. A similar system has been in place for the German-language Wikipedia for over a year. The New York Times's more complete coverage of this Wikipedia development is here.