Wikipedia Moves Offline: Print Version Coming Soon

Publishing powerhouse Bertelsmann is planning on selling a print edition of the German language version of Wikipedia. Bertelsmann says the Wikipedia print edition will be called "The One-Volume Wikipedia Encyclopedia" and will include 50,000 entries and cost about $32.

Wikipedia entries, according to Bertelsmann, are to be selected based on popularity rather than relevance. (Britney, yes? Madame Curie, no?) In an interview with the Associated Press Arne Klempert, a spokesperson for Wikipedia Germany said "The approach of 'Wikipedia in One Volume' is to give the people the information they are looking for." Klempert explained content for traditional encyclopedias is decided on by a select group behind closed doors.

Before I fork over cash for the Wikipedia print edition I'd like to how Bertelsmann defines popular. Is it possible to measure the "popularity" of the Magna Carta by the number of hits it receives on Wikipedia?

Nobody yet knows just how retro Bertelsmann wants to go with its leap backwards into the publishing industry. Of course there won’t be any hyperlinks in the 992-page book. However in one nod to the past Bertelsmann says entries will be fact-checked before they go to print.

One last question: is Bertelsmann going to promote "The One-Volume Wikipedia Encyclopedia" on Amazon.com and in Google ads or is it going to hire door-to-door salesman.

(CREDIT: PC World contributor Kerry Joyce spotted this story about Wikipedia. Here is his take on the news.)

Comments

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May 12, 2008

7:57 AM PT