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Wikipedia:Geonotice

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A geonotice is a notice on Special:Watchlist that is displayed only to users who are physically located in some subset of the Earth. The configuration page of geonotices is on Wikipedia:Geonotice/list.json. View the active geonotices and the regions they cover on Wikipedia:Geonotice/Map.

The purpose of geonotices is to announce events that would be of great interest to people in a specific region, but that would not be interesting to most of our readers. The use of targeted messages allows us to scale our communication better; rather than flooding people with multiple messages or avoiding messages entirely, we can display messages only to the people who are most likely to find them useful.

Example uses for targeted messages are: to announce upcoming Wikipedia meetups and local events, for local chapter activities and to advertise mailing lists focused on geographical areas.

Geonotices requested here are only displayed on the watchlist on the English Wikipedia. If you want to target users of all Wikimedia Foundation wikis in a particular geographical area, you can go to meta:CentralNotice to request a geotargeted banner.

No data or personal information is gathered from users to make this notice possible, nor does this notice share any user's personal information with outsiders.

Technical details

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Geonotices are a type of watchlist notice, a type of top of page message similar to a MediaWiki:Sitenotice, MediaWiki:Anonnotice or MediaWiki:Watchlist-messages notice.

The current implementation works by loading the user's latitude and longitude from geoiplookup.wikimedia.org and using a small bit of JavaScript (Geonotice-core.js and Geonotice-list.js) to determine whether or not to display a notice to the user. The location detection is IP address-based, using a lookup system described at wikitech:Geolocation. Currently, MediaWiki:Gadgets-definition specifies the geonotices to be listed at MediaWiki:Gadget-geonotice-list.js (IAdmin-protected), which is turn is updated automatically by User:MusikBot II by synchronizing from Wikipedia:Geonotice/list.json (Sysop-protected).

The "hide" button that is displayed with each message will persistently dismiss that particular message. You can also disable all Geonotices by disabling the Geonotice gadget in your preferences. Geonotices will also be hidden if you have opted to hide all watchlist notices.

Geonotices are currently a candidate to be integrated into MediaWiki proper. One significant open question is how best to allow users to specify the locations of interest for a message. Right now, the location range must be hard-coded in JavaScript itself.

Guidelines

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Create request

To propose a geonotice, simply create a new section under the § Requests section, using the boilerplate text below, and keep following the instructions in this section:

=== [[Related page name (e.g. meetup page)]] ===
<syntaxhighlight lang="json">
"begin" : "18 September 2019 00:00 UTC",
"end" : "25 September 2019 00:00 UTC",
"corners" : [[45, -90], [52, -100]], 
"text" : "Replace this with your message. You can add [[Wikipedia:Meetup|Wikilinks]] or [https://en.wikipedia.org external links]."
</syntaxhighlight>

'''Discussion'''
* ''User requesting:'' ~~~~

Locations

Try to be as specific as possible when specifying a location. For example, a Washington, D.C. meetup should not be advertised to all users in the United States. Please note that location detection is not flawless: boundaries vary, and IP-based geolocation is inherently imprecise.

Providing exact geographic coordinates makes things much easier. The required format is: [ [latitude, longitude], [latitude, longitude] ] This format defines a bounding box. To help identify bounding boxes, the Flickr API provides a useful reference database (for example: British Columbia). If unsure, select a central point and extend the box one or two degrees in all directions. You can also generate a bounding box using tools like norbertrenner.de/osm/bbox.html: simply navigate to the desired area, click "Draw" in the top left, outline your box, and copy the coordinates shown next to "overpass ql."

For country-wide geonotices, you can target an entire country directly using a country code, such as: "country": "US" instead of specifying "corners":. The geonotice tool follows ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes, which is usually more reliable.

Messages

Messages should be one or two sentences in length, and they should not contain any flashy text or images. It is a good idea to provide at least two options, in case one is deemed inappropriate.

Messages exceeding four sentences are deemed too large, except in cases where the sentences are short. Geonotices should always be used with the understanding that some of the intended audience will be excluded and that some unintended people will be included. As such, the message should be written in a way that would be suitable for display to all users. For example, write "The New York City Wikipedia Meetup will be on August 12" rather than "Hello resident of Long Island...".

Remember to link the event signup page (where appropriate) in the notice - and please use a wikilink (to Wikipedia, Meta, etc) rather than a URL. External URLs do not always work reliably.

Date range

Try to post your request at least five days (preferably seven to ten days) in advance. It may take a while for requests to be handled.

Notify Geonotice maintainers

In case there is no feedback in a few days after posting the request, ask User:Redrose64, User:L235, User:the wub, or an administrator to take a look.

Requests

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Add new requests to the top of this list. Please include coordinates where possible, as this will speed up processing. Note that this page is quite low-traffic - if you've had no response after a day or two, or if it's urgent, please poke the administrators.

  "begin" : "25 October 2025 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "22 November 2025 23:59 UTC",
  "corners" : [ [ 41.5006, -88.3981 ], [ 42.491, -87.2911 ] ]
  "text" : "All Chicago Wikipedians are welcome at our '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/Chicago/22_November_2025 |November meetup]]''' at Pilsen's Cafe Jumping Bean. Join fellow Wikipedians for coffee, conversation, and editing!"

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 22:47, 26 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "1 November 08:00 UTC",
  "end" : "15 November 21:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[32.7, -121.5], [35.2, -114.1]]
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to come to an '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/LA/November 2025|edit-a-thon]]''' in West Hollywood, California. The focus will be on articles relating to [[Native American Heritage Month]]."

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 22:36, 23 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "21 October 2025 23:00 UTC",
  "end" : "1 November 2025 22:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[47, -121.9], [48.2, -123]], 
  "text" : "Join [[:meta:Cascadia Wikimedians|Cascadia Wikimedians]] and the [[WP:Meetup/Seattle|Seattle Wikipedia meetup]] for a ‘’’[[:Wikidata:Event:Wikidata 13th Birthday Celebration in Seattle|Wikidata’s 13th Birthday Celebration]]’’’ from 1pm to 4:45pm on Saturday, November 1, 2025, in the meeting room at [[Capitol Hill Branch Library]]. Sign up on our [[:Wikidata:Event:Wikidata 13th Birthday Celebration in Seattle|event page]].”

Discussion  Done As an admin, I took care of setting this up. I put it here for tracking's sake.

  "begin" : "5 November 2025 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "13 November 2025 23:59 UTC",
  "corners" : [[38.85,-120.5], [36.6, -123.5]], 
  "text" : "[[Event:Bay_Area_Meetup_November_2025|Join]] Wikipedians in the Bay Area on November 13 for Wikidata's birthday - with lightning talks, time to meet other Wikimedians, cake and pizza."

Discussion

@e mln e Wikidata's birthday and what? Looks like the text got cut short. the wub "?!" 12:26, 14 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for catching this! Corrected E mln e (talk) 19:22, 14 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for the correction. This is  Done now. the wub "?!" 23:25, 14 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]


  "begin" : "26 October 08:00 UTC",
  "end" : "8 November 22:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[33.429, -116.082], [32.524, -117.6]], [[San Diego County]]
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to join other Wikimedians at '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/November 2025|a salon]]''' in San Carlos, San Diego, California."

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 16:20, 11 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "8 October 07:00 UTC",
  "end" : "11 October 21:30 UTC",
  "corners" : [[33.429, -116.082], [32.524, -117.6]], [[San Diego County]]
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to join other Wikimedians at '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/October 2025|a salon]]''' in Bay Terraces, San Diego, California."

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 16:20, 11 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@The wub: thanks. I had to move the date of the meetup. Is it possible to change the notification to be from 19 October to 25 October, same start and stop times? --RightCowLeftCoast (Moo) 18:15, 12 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
No problem, done! the wub "?!" 21:20, 12 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "20 September 2025 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "19 October 2025 20:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[ 37.8, -75.1 ], [ 33.48, -84.91 ]],
  "text" : "Join the [[:meta:North Carolina Wikipedians|North Carolina Wikipedians]] for a [[:en:Wiki Loves Monuments|Wiki Loves Monuments]] October event series! Following our online kickoff on October 5th, we'll meet for a [[:en:Wikipedia:Meetup/NC/Dorothea Dix Hospital Editathon October 2025|picnic and dark history tour]] at Dix Park, site of the former [[:en:Dorothea Dix Hospital|Dorothea Dix Hospital]] in [[Raleigh, North Carolina]] on Friday, Oct 10 from 5pm to 7pm. We'll wrap up the series on Oct 19 with an online editathon to improve content about the hospital, Dix Park and related articles. Attend one event or all three! New editors welcome!"

This should render as: Join the North Carolina Wikipedians for a Wiki Loves Monuments October event series! Following our online kickoff on October 5th, we'll meet for a picnic and dark history tour at Dix Park, site of the former Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday, Oct 10 from 5pm to 7pm. We'll wrap up the series on Oct 19 with an online editathon to improve content about the hospital, Dix Park and related articles. Attend one event or all three! New editors welcome!

Discussion

 Done @Gaurav Sorry for the delay in getting to this. It's awfully long for a watchlist notice, I trimmed it a little as below (and made the link more obvious that it covers all the events in the series)
Join North Carolina Wikipedians for a Wiki Loves Monuments October event series! Following our online kickoff on Oct 5th, we'll meet for a picnic and dark history tour at Dix Park, site of the former Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh on Friday, Oct 10. We'll wrap up on Oct 19 with an online editathon to improve content about related articles. Attend one event or all three! New editors welcome!
the wub "?!" 15:05, 22 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]
That looks great, the wub -- thank you so much! -- Gaurav (talk) 03:39, 23 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]
"begin" : "29 August 2025 15:00 UTC",
  "end" : "6 September 2025 16:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[50, -5], [53, -2]], 
  "text" : "Everybody is welcome at the sixth [[meta:Meetup/Brighton/6|meetup in Brighton, UK]], on '''Saturday, 6th September'''. Join other Wikipedians for a chat over beer, soft drinks and lunch!"

Discussion

 Done For the UK meetups since there are quite a few we tend to bundle them into a single message which is displayed across the whole of the UK. I've added Brighton to the existing message. the wub "?!" 13:58, 29 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]
"begin" : "25 August 2025 18:00 UTC",
"end" : "18 September 2025 18:00 UTC",
"corners" : [ [ 41.5006, -88.3981 ], [ 42.491, -87.2911 ] ], 
"text" : "All Chicago editors are welcome to our '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/Chicago/Wiki_Week_Edit-a-thon_2025|Wiki Week edit-a-thon]]''' hosted by UIC. Join your fellow Wikipedians for an [[edit-a-thon]]!"

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 07:47, 26 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "22 August 2025 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "31 August 2025 20:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[ 37.8, -74 ], [ 33, -86 ]],
  "text" : "Join the [[meta:North_Carolina_Wikipedians|North Carolina Wikipedians]] for a [[Wikipedia:Meetup/NC/Virtual Editathon August 2025|virtual editathon]] on Sunday, Aug 31, 2025 from 3pm to 4:30pm. Our focus will be on photos and articles in eastern NC. Inexperienced editors welcome!"

Text should render as: Join the North Carolina Wikipedians for a virtual editathon on Sunday, Aug 31, 2025 from 3pm to 4:30pm. Our focus will be on photos and articles in eastern NC. Inexperienced editors welcome!

Discussion

  "begin" : "31 July 07:00 UTC",
  "end" : "17 August 04:30 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.9925, -114.1308], [32.5295, -124.482]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to join other Wikimedians at '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/August 2025 Wiknic|a Wiknic]]''' in Mission Bay, San Diego, California."

Discussion

Modified dates to 31 July to 17 August.--RightCowLeftCoast (Moo) 21:00, 5 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]
 Done the wub "?!" 23:51, 7 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "1 August 07:00 UTC",
  "end" : "9 August 21:30 UTC",
  "corners" : [[33.51, -116], [31.5, -118]], [[San Diego County]] & [[Baja California]]
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to join other Wikimedians at '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/August 2025|a salon]]''' in San Ysidro, San Diego, California."

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 22:45, 17 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "17 June 2025 18:00 UTC",
  "end" : "13 July 2025 18:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [ [ 41.5006, -88.3981 ], [ 42.491, -87.2911 ] ], 
  "text" : "All Chicago editors are welcome to our '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/Chicago/13_July_2025|July meetup]]''' at Welles Park. Join your fellow Wikipedians for a [[Wikipedia:Wiknic|Wiknic]]!"

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 22:19, 19 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "30 August 07:00 UTC",
  "end" : "13 September 20:30 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.9925, -114.1308], [32.5295, -124.482]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to join other Wikimedians at '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/September 2025|a salon]]''' in University City, San Diego, California."

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 20:34, 25 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "22 June 07:00 UTC",
  "end" : "12 July 19:30 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.9925, -114.1308], [32.5295, -124.482]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to join other Wikimedians at '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/July 2025|a salon]]''' in Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego, California."

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 20:34, 25 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "1 June 07:00 UTC",
  "end" : "21 June 23:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.9925, -114.1308], [32.5295, -124.482]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to join other Wikimedians at '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/June 2025|a salon]]''' in Carmel Mountain Ranch, San Diego, California."

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 20:34, 25 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "30 April 2025 18:00 UTC",
  "end" : "24 May 2025 18:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [ [ 41.5006, -88.3981 ], [ 42.491, -87.2911 ] ], 
  "text" : "All Chicago editors are welcome at our '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/Chicago/24_May_2025|May meetup]]''' at Botanical Cafe. Join your fellow Wikipedians for coffee, conversation, and editing!"

Discussion

Thanks!
 Done the wub "?!" 12:48, 3 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "8 May 21:00 UTC",
  "end" : "11 May 21:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.9925, -114.1308], [32.5295, -124.482]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to join other Wikimedians at '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/Los Angeles/Santa Monica Airport 2025|a photography meetup]]''' at Santa Monica Airport."

Discussion

 Done, this looks like such a cool idea for a meetup! I moved the start time a few days earlier, don't think there's any issue with having two overlapping notices for a short while. the wub "?!" 20:08, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "3 May 19:00 UTC",
  "end" : "10 May 15:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.9925, -114.1308], [32.5295, -124.482]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to join other Wikimedians at '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/10 May 2025|a salon]]''' in Chula Vista, California."

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 20:06, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "27 April 2025 03:00 UTC",
  "end" : "3 May 19:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.9925, -114.1308], [32.5295, -124.482]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to join other Wikimedians at '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/3 May 2025|a salon]]''' in Rancho Bernardo, San Diego."

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 10:00, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "20 April 2025 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "27 April 2025 03:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.9925, -114.1308], [32.5295, -124.482]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to join other Wikimedians at '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/April 2025|pub trivia]''' in Rancho Bernardo, San Diego."

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 10:00, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "12 April 2025 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "24 April 2025 00:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[43.64,-124.57], 45.93,-121.05]], 
  "text" : "[[m:Event:World Book Day - Supporting Latino Authors|Join us for the next #EveryBookItsReader Edit-a-thon: everyone’s invited to help highlight Latino authors!]]"

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 13:39, 11 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "8 March 2025 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "11 March 2025 03:30 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.9925, -114.1308], [32.5295, -124.482]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to an '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/March 2025|online meetup]]''' on Google Meet for [[meta:San Diego Wikimedians User Group|San Diego Wikimedians User Group]]."

Discussion

  "begin" : "07 March 2025 06:30 UTC",
  "end" : "09 March 2025 20:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[29.2,-98.87], [33.36,-94.7]], 
  "text" : "Interested in discussing what's to come for Wikipedia? Join the Wikimedia Open House for an Open Future on Sunday, March 9th in Austin, TX. See [https://pretix.eu/wikimedia/openhouse/ Wikimedia Foundation Open House for an Open Future]."

Discussion As an admin, I will add this to Wikipedia:Geonotice/list.json myself. I am adding it here for documentation.

  "begin" : "1 March 2025 18:00 UTC",
  "end" : "24 March 2025 18:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[38.907192, -77.036873], [36.852924, -75.977982]], <!--DublinCore from boundingbox.klokantech.com: westlimit=-82.51; southlimit=36.51; eastlimit=-74.96; northlimit=39.85-->
  "text" : "Join the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum and Wikimedia DC for the '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/DC/March 255|Enhancing the Discoverability of Women’s History Wikipedia Edit-a-thon]]'''. This is a virtual event. Editors of all experience levels are welcome. Training will be provided for new editors.

Discussion

 Done, I tweaked the coordinates a bit. the wub "?!" 00:33, 9 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I don't see the banner notice and I live within the targeted area. I had others test it as well and it's not visible to them either. Any idea why? We're trying to target our chapter's service area (DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware). It's a big area, so maybe at least within 50 to 100 miles of DC. Thanks for your help. Ariel Cetrone (WMDC) (talk) 15:38, 19 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Please disregard my concerns. I believe I was confusing geonotices with Central Notices. Ariel Cetrone (WMDC) (talk) 16:30, 19 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "26 February 2025 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "1 March 2025 04:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[35.9925, -114.1308], [32.5295, -124.482]],
  "text" : "Everyone is invited to an '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Diego/February 2025|online meetup]]''' on Google Meet for [[meta:San Diego Wikimedians User Group|San Diego Wikimedians User Group]]."

Discussion

  "begin" : "24 February 2025 18:00 UTC",
  "end" : "15 March 2025 18:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[38, -109], [42, -114.1]], 
  "text" : "All Chicago editors are welcome at our '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/Chicago/15_March_2025|March meetup]]''' at Sipping Turtle Cafe. Join your fellow Wikipedians for coffee, conversation, and editing!"

Discussion

 Done but I used the coordinates from the last Chicago meetup, the ones above look like Utah. the wub "?!" 00:32, 27 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "02 January 2025 18:00 UTC",
  "end" : "01 February 2025 18:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [ [ 41.5006, -88.3981 ], [ 42.491, -87.2911 ] ]
  "text" : "We invite Utahns, film enthusiasts, Wikipedians, Wikimedians, and the WikiCurious to join us for [[Wikipedia:Meetup/Utah/Wikipedia Day 2025|Wikipedia's 24th birthday in Park City]] during the Sundance Film Festival. Click here for [[Wikipedia:Meetup/Utah/Wikipedia Day 2025|details]] and to [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-utah-wikipedia-day-at-sundance-film-festival-on-feb-1-in-park-city-tickets-1120245076179 sign up]."

Discussion
As an admin, I will add this to Wikipedia:Geonotice/list.json myself.

 Done Peaceray (talk) 19:56, 2 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "01 January 2025 08:00 UTC",
  "end" : "11 January 2025 20:00 UTC",
  "corners" : [[47.4394, -122.095551], [47.773647, -122.432694]], <!--DublinCore from boundingbox.klokantech.com: westlimit=-122.432694; southlimit=47.4394; eastlimit=-122.095551; northlimit=47.773647-->
  "text" : "Join us at our [[Wikipedia:Meetup/Seattle/Wikipedia Day 2025|Seattle Wikipedia Day]] edit-a-thon at the [[Capitol Hill Branch Library]] on Saturday, January 11, from 1:00–4:30pm PT for improving [[WP:WikiProject Seattle|WikiProject Seattle]] articles."

Discussion
As an admin, I will add this to Wikipedia:Geonotice/list.json myself.

 Done Also expanded corners to [[47, -121.9], [48.2, -123]] Peaceray (talk) 18:01, 2 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  "begin" : "1 January 2025 00:00 UTC",
  "end" : "19 January 2025 23:59 UTC",
  "corners" : [ [ 41.5006, -88.3981 ], [ 42.491, -87.2911 ] ]
  "text" : "All Chicago Wikipedians are welcome at our '''[[Wikipedia:Meetup/Chicago/Wikipedia Day 2025|Wikipedia Day meetup]]''' at Wicker Park Bucktown Library. Join fellow editors for coffee, cake, and fun times as we celebrate the birth of Wikipedia!"

Discussion

 Done the wub "?!" 09:46, 30 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Previous requests

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