Paid and non-paid writers who have problems coping with the complex rules of Wikipedia, which often involve subjective judgments as to what is a “reliable” source, have formed “WikiProject: Cooperation.”

Jack Macleod
New Media Strategies'
Jack Macleod
The dozen or so members include David King of wikipediaethics.com, former WP volunteer editor; Jeff Taylor of New Media Strategies, a pioneer in NM which currently employs 120 staffers, and William Beutler of Beutler Enterprises.

The group is independent of WP. It has adopted a conciliatory approach to the service.

Paid editors are urged to be “polite, civil and humble” in dealing with WP editors and administrators. Most paid editors are new to WP but the members of WP/Cooperation are “veterans who have poured many hours into learning how the site works and the best way to collaborate with others,” says the WP/C site.

Boldface type says: “Paid editors are strongly encouraged not to make direct edits to articles.”

WP/C is an outgrowth of CREWE (Corporate Representatives for Ethical WP Engagement).

WP Board Meets on COI Feb. 3-4


“Conflict-of-Interest,” the term used for those who are paid to attempt contributions to WP, is one of the topics that will be discussed at the WP board meeting Feb. 3-4 in San Francisco.

The discussion will be led by co-founder Jimmy Wales on Feb. 3 from 3 to 4 p.m.

CREWE members are hoping for an in-person meeting with Wales or his staffers.

NMS, based in Arlington, Va., says it is one of the pioneers in social media marketing and has been referred to by the Washington Post as “the largest social media agency in the world.” Web sources put current revenues at more than $20 million. It was founded in 1999 by Pete Snyder who had a background in political polling and market research. Early accounts included The Walt Disney Co., ABC and Burger King.

Snyder in 2007 sold the firm to Meredith Corp., $1.35 billion publisher of Family Circle, Better Homes & Gardens, Ladies’ Home Journal and Parents magazines.

NMS gained access to Meredith’s 85 million unduplicated consumer names, reaching 80% of home-owning households. The firm has developed special practice areas in healthcare, beauty, sports, entertainment, automotive, travel, technology and public affairs, among others. Its Directive unit specializes in database strategy, analytics and customer asset management and aims to “increase the level of consumer engagement by increasing the depth of interaction with the brand.”

Its Hyperfactory unit reaches cell phones and other mobile media to reach consumers who are “on the go.”

MacLeod Succeeds Snyder


Jack MacLeod, who was VP of sales of NMS, succeeded Snyder as general manager when the founder and CEO left in December, 2011 to found Disrupter Capital, an “angel” investment firm targeting tech, marketing and PA start-ups in the Washington, D.C., area.

Snyder, who was a pollster for New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani during the 1997 mayoral campaign, often appears on Fox News as a conservative commentator and source of views on marketing and business He also was asked to serve as chairman the 2012 Virginia Victory Campaign by Governor Bob McDonnell, which oversees Republican efforts in the presidential, senate and congressional elections in Virginia this year.

MacLeod, who was VP-sales for five years before rising to GM, was previously in executive sales posts at Klipmart video solutions before its acquisition by DoubleClick, and at Advertising.com, where he managed teams and opened offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The company was acquired by AOL/Time Warner for $497 million.

Earlier in his career he handled tech and PA at Ogilvy PR Worldwide. He has a degree in English and Communications & Theatre from Notre Dame.