These guidelines establish the editorial standards for all content published on Michipedia. Their purpose is to ensure that articles remain accurate, neutral, verifiable, and useful to readers while preserving Michigan's historical, cultural, governmental, and geographic record.
Michipedia is an encyclopedia—not a social network, blog, advocacy platform, political campaign, marketing tool, or forum for personal opinions.
All content published on Michipedia should follow four foundational principles:
Editors should strive to document subjects rather than advocate for them. Articles should inform readers, not persuade them. Similar principles form the foundation of major encyclopedia projects worldwide. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Articles must be written from a neutral point of view.
Editors should:
Editors should not:
Example:
Acceptable
The proposal generated public debate among residents and elected officials.
Not Acceptable
The proposal was an obvious disaster that angered everyone.
Neutrality is a core requirement for encyclopedia content. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Information must be capable of verification through reliable published sources.
A statement should be cited when it:
Material that cannot be verified may be removed.
Verifiability is often more important than whether a statement appears to be true. Readers must be able to independently confirm information through cited sources. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Preferred sources include:
Sources should be evaluated for:
Primary sources document events directly.
Examples:
Primary sources may be used for straightforward factual statements.
Editors should avoid interpreting primary sources beyond what they explicitly state.
Secondary sources analyze or interpret primary information.
Examples:
Secondary sources are generally preferred because they provide context and analysis.
Examples include:
* Encyclopedias * Reference works * Educational summaries * Institutional knowledge bases * Historical compilations
Tertiary sources may be used to provide background information, establish context, identify research leads, or summarize well-established information.
Michipedia recognizes that historical preservation, genealogy, local history, science, and technical subjects often rely on a mixture of primary, secondary, and tertiary materials.
As a result, tertiary sources may be used more flexibly when:
* The information is relevant to understanding a subject. * The source is reasonably reliable. * The information can be corroborated through available evidence when necessary. * The subject has historical, educational, institutional, scientific, or research value.
Academic repositories and research archives may be cited when appropriate.
Examples include:
* arXiv * institutional repositories * university archives * conference proceedings * technical papers * preprints
Research papers hosted on platforms such as arXiv may be cited when they provide relevant information, particularly in scientific, mathematical, technical, engineering, or academic topics.
Editors should note whether a work is:
* Peer-reviewed * Published * A preprint * A working paper
Preprints and unpublished research should be presented carefully and should not be treated as settled fact unless supported by additional evidence.
Editors should not dismiss information solely because it appears in a tertiary source or research repository.
Many subjects that are obscure today may become valuable to researchers, historians, descendants, students, or the public in the future.
Whenever possible, editors should continue seeking primary and secondary sources, but the absence of extensive secondary coverage does not automatically disqualify documented information from inclusion.
Michipedia favors preservation of documented knowledge over unnecessary exclusion.
Michipedia generally discourages unpublished original research.
However, Michipedia recognizes that many valuable historical discoveries, genealogical findings, local records, technical papers, and archival projects originate from independent researchers rather than traditional publishers.
Original research may be included when it has been formally published or endorsed by a recognized institution.
Examples include:
* Historical societies * Museums * Universities * Libraries * Tribal governments * Archives * Government agencies * Educational organizations * Research institutions
To qualify, the work should be:
* Publicly accessible * Attributable to an author or organization * Published in a stable location * Subject to some level of institutional review or sponsorship
Michipedia may recognize verified organizations through an Institutional Seal system.
Institutional Seals indicate that content originates from, is maintained by, or has been reviewed by a recognized organization.
Examples may include:
* University Seal * Historical Society Seal * Museum Seal * Government Seal * Tribal Nation Seal * Library Seal * Research Institution Seal
Institutional Seals do not guarantee accuracy and do not exempt content from editorial review. They serve as indicators of provenance, authorship, and organizational accountability.
Organizations may apply for verified status.
Verified organizations may:
* Maintain institutional pages * Publish archival materials * Submit research collections * Contribute historical records * Display approved Institutional Seals
Verification may require evidence of organizational legitimacy, public presence, or legal existence.
Michipedia values the preservation of documented knowledge.
Information should not be excluded solely because it originated from independent research if that research has been formally published through a recognized organization or institution.
The goal of Michipedia is to preserve and organize knowledge while providing readers with clear information regarding the source and provenance of that knowledge.
Articles should be written in a professional, informative style.
Preferred writing:
Avoid:
Historical articles should:
When historical accounts conflict, significant interpretations should be summarized with appropriate attribution.
Articles about people must be written with particular care.
Requirements:
Living persons require especially careful sourcing.
Unsourced or poorly sourced contentious material may be removed immediately.
Articles about organizations should:
Articles should not function as:
Promotional language should be removed.
Geographic articles should include:
Examples include:
Images should:
Preferred images include:
Editors should exercise caution when editing subjects with which they have a close personal, financial, political, or professional connection.
Examples include:
Editors are encouraged to prioritize neutral documentation over advocacy.
Michipedia exists to document:
Articles should maintain a clear connection to Michigan whenever possible.
Editors should:
Content disputes should be resolved through evidence and sourcing rather than personal attacks.
Michipedia's mission is to preserve and present knowledge about Michigan in an accurate, neutral, and verifiable manner.
Editors should remember a simple rule:
Document what reliable sources say. Do not use articles to promote what you personally believe.
policies editorial_guidelines neutrality verifiability sourcing writing_standards