I am a 47 year old male, work as a graphic designer and live near Washington DC.
I mostly edit wikipedia topics for which I have some amount (both small and large) of professional expertise. Mostly entertainment/media/music/publishing or American history. For over 20 years I've been involved in both marketing and publishing for these industries.
Here's how I learned about being a wikipedia editor and why I am here
I'm intrigued with wikipedia's low-threshold for determining notable music acts. Especially after encountering a friend's brother, a 35-ish, full-time construction contractor who is a part time wanna-be rocker. We had a long talk about wikipedia and "notability."
Here's the recap:
As a hobby he has self-produced 3 CD's and promotes them heavily via music blogs, podcasts, social networking etc. He has confided in me that all 3 CD's combined have sold less than 1000 units (and he's given away about an equal number). Full-time work has prevented him from performing much more than at local weekend festivals and eateries. Still, he's ambitious to have his music heard.
He created his own wikipedia page as a way to promote himself. He learned about AfD when he was notified his page was nominated. Editors unanimously voted "keep" because as result of his aggressive marketing a google search will reveal hits for his name. The Washington Post website had reviewed two of his CD's, plus he's received mentions in and was interviewed by a handful of nationally recognized Alternative music publications. Wiki editor's agreed this qualified as "significant independent coverage" from "non-trivial" sources.
Here's the thing:
Not one of these article's authors sought him out or is reporting on a noteworthy accomplishment. It is all his self-promotion, and he's found editors--hungry for quick content-- easily willing to paraphrase copy he has provided them. So, the fact that he gets stuff in print (or posted online) creates an impression of importance. Especially when a google search suggest his music has been reviewed by the Washington Post, but in reality is a music blog connected with the newspaper's website. And that it doesn't so much as review his CD as it simply list it among the two dozen or so local music acts who have released CD's that particular month, and includes with it his own paragraph long description.
Makes me wonder if wikipedia editors realize how easy it is for a self-promoting artists to get coverage. Keep in mind, this is a guy who has sold less than 1000 CD's and performs before small--and often indifferent--crowds, maybe one or two dozen times per year. Yet--TRUE STORY--wikipedia entitles his named to be listed next to a person in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of two notable graduates of a northern Virginia high school who have distinguished themselves in the field of music.
Sorry. That ain't right. So that's why I'm here. To peruse AfDs, mostly musicians and comedians, helping to identify and weed out those who I recognize as having hyped their way into wikipedia notability.