Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'encyclopedia'

Harry Potter Encyclopedia Barred From Publication

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EDT

A U.S. federal judge banned a glossary of Harry Potter terminology — not written by Potter author J.K. Rowling — from publication on Monday. The judge cited copyright infringement and said that the encyclopedia borrowed "too much of Rowling's creative work for its purposes as a reference guide."

Wikipedia Turns To Gutenberg-Era Tech

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:37:00 EDT

Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, is going to be printed in a hardcover edition. Beate Varnhorn, of Bertlesmann Lexicon, talks about why the publishing company is publishing and selling a print version of the free online encyclopedia.

Britannica Lets Online Visitors Suggest Revisions

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Encyclopedia Britannica is taking a page out of the Wikipedia playbook by allowing readers to make edits and contributions to the encyclopedia.

'Harry Potter' Author Sues over Encyclopedia

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:00:00 EDT

The author of the Harry Potter books is suing a publisher over its forthcoming book, The Harry Potter Lexicon, an encyclopedia of terminology from the beloved series. J.K. Rowling claims the book is a rip-off of her work.

Wikipedia Tracks Changes to Encyclopedia

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 06:00:00 EDT

Wikipedia Vision is a new online map which spins across the globe, tracking the changes people make to the encyclopedia. You can see what was edited, when and where. So this morning we know that someone in Hong Kong changed the definition of a Rolls Royce Phantom.

Scanner Tracks Who's Changing What on Wikipedia

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:01:00 EDT

Wikipedia is one of the Internet's most popular fact-checking sites. But a new tool shows how the online encyclopedia, which is maintained by its users, is often manipulated by the companies and individuals who are the subjects of its entries.

The Wide Scope of the 'Encyclopedia of Life'

Fri, 11 May 2007 16:25:00 EDT

Robert Siegel talks with E.O. Wilson about the Encyclopedia of Life. Wilson is part of the new project, which is a collection of information and multimedia about every living thing on the planet.

Wikipedia Co-Founder Eyes Rival Site

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 06:00:00 EDT

Wikipedia's co-founder, Larry Sanger, is creating a rival encyclopedia site. Sanger says Citizendium will require contributors to use real names and prove expertise. And experts will be asked to check for accuracy.

Conservapedia: Data for Birds of a Political Feather...

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:53:00 EDT

For conservative computer users who find the online encyclopedia Wikipedia to harbor too many values that conflict with their own, a new site awaits. Conservapedia founder Andy Schlafly says the new site is an alternative to Wikipedia and what he deems to be a liberal bias. Robert Siegel talks with Schlafly.

Wikipedia Bans Access from Capitol Hill Computers

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 EST

The online encyclopedia Wikipedia, which allows users to edit entries on a wide range of subjects, has banned Capitol Hill computers from the editing process. The reason? Hill staffers tend to write glowing entries about their bosses. Alex Chadwick talks with Andrea Seabrook about some of the worst offenders, and just how far-ranging the problem is getting.

Assessing Wikipedia's Accuracy

Thu, 15 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST

In the wake of questions of accuracy, a survey by the science journal Nature finds that science entries in the volunteer-driven, online encyclopedia Wikipedia are "not markedly less accurate" than those found in Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Amy Rosenthal's Lively, Personal 'Encyclopedia'

Sat, 26 Mar 2005 00:00:00 EST

She is neither a misunderstood genius nor a child celebrity. She has not witnessed the extraordinary. Yet Amy Krouse Rosenthal wants you to know about her life. Her new memoir is an encyclopedia of herself, in alphabetical order. Mallory Kasdan profiles the writer.

Donald Knuth, Founding Artist of Computer Science

Mon, 14 Mar 2005 00:00:00 EST

Donald Knuth is legendary in the computer science world for writing a series of must-have reference books called The Art of Computer Programming. Part cookbook, part textbook, part encyclopedia, these books are also considered by many to be technical and personal works of art.

Wikipedia's Growth Comes with Concerns

Sun, 20 Feb 2005 00:00:00 EST

Wikipedia is a dynamic, online encyclopedia that allows users to create and edit their own entries. Volunteers then fact-check the entiries to ensure accuracy. NPR's Laura Sydell reports that as Wikipedia has grown dramatically in popularity, some have begun to question its accuracy.

Christmas: The Trivial and the Not-So

Sat, 25 Dec 2004 00:00:00 EST

NPR's Scott Simon checks in once again with encyclopedia man A.J. Jacobs. This time A.J. fills us in on obscure Christmas information.