Help:Growth/Tools/Community updates module

The Community Updates module allows Wikipedia communities to highlight important events, campaigns, and WikiProjects directly on the Newcomer homepage.

How it works

Newcomer Homepage with example Community Update highlighting "Women in Red"

The Community Updates module is located on the Newcomer Homepage (Special:Homepage).

Community Updates highlight important events, campaigns, and WikiProjects directly on the Newcomer homepage. The highlights are chosen by the community.

At the moment, only one event can be highlighted at a time.

This feature is Community Configurable, providing admins the ability to customize its content and presentation to fit local needs.

You can read more about the Community Updates module on its project page.

Benefits for communities

Community Updates module provides several benefits to communities:

• Community Configurable: Admins can adjust the module's title, image, text, and call-to-action.
• Target Newcomers: Viewable on the Newcomer Homepage, and can be targeted by “edit count” if the event isn’t appropriate for brand new account holders.
• Flexible Usage: Can highlight community news, events, content gaps, and more.
• Increased Engagement: Encourages new editors to participate in community events and projects.
• Address Content Gaps: Helps direct focus toward underrepresented topics and help bridge content gaps.

For communities: how to configure it

The following procedure is only applicable to wikis where the Growth tools are available .

Growth team Community updates module at Beta Wikipedia, screenshot from September 2024

Configuration for this feature is only editable by administrators, using Community Configuration . Any user can read the configuration.

Setup Instructions

1. Access the Community Configuration page at Special:CommunityConfiguration/CommunityUpdates.
2. Enable by checking the box next to “Turn on”.
3. Customize:
   • the title for the event,
   • the image (or logo) associated with the community event. This file is from Wikimedia Commons,
   • the text body, a short and friendly informational message to spark interest,
   • the Call to Action (optional).
     • The label for this call to action, a few words that invite users to click
     • The destination page where all the information about the event is.
   • The target audience. This is defined by setting a minimum number of edits a user must have to be shown this banner.
     • Please do not forget that the Homepage is intended to newcomers. A high number of edits to show the event will have a lower impact.
4. Save changes
5. Review the changes by visiting Special:Homepage

You can pause the configuration by unchecking the “Turn on” checkbox.

Note: When you edit this page, you agree to release your contribution under the CC0. See Public Domain Help Pages for more info.

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