Edit-a-thon: 209 participants improve the visibility of women in sport

The edit-a-thon "For more visibility on Wikipedia" held its 14th edition on November 25, 2025. Organized by Wikimedia CH, the EqualVoice initiative, ETH, Ringier and Somedia, the event took place simultaneously in Zurich, Basel, Chur, Davos and online with a total of 209 participants. The focus was once again on women in sport, whose achievements are still underrepresented online.

Pilot project on the use of AI at the edit-a-thon

On the initiative of Edit-a-thon partner Ringier, a pilot project was launched in Zurich to use common AI tools to support the creation, updating or translation of Wikipedia articles. The aim of the test is to find out whether and how the Edit-a-thon participants use AI tools and whether the number and quality of articles can be increased as a result.

Care was taken to ensure that the final article editing was carried out by the authors themselves. This is to ensure that the result meets the strict criteria of the Wikipedia community. "For us, it goes without saying that the final factual research and content review must remain completely manual," emphasize the representatives of the Edit-a-thon partners EqualVoice and Ringier. AI should support people, but by no means replace them. With the pilot, the organizers want to create a link to current media use, encourage women in particular to use AI tools and contribute to the basic idea of the Edit-a-thon to get more women writing on Wikipedia.

New partners extend the patronage

Edit-a-thon 2025 has continued to grow with the Basel University of Art and Design FHNW (HGK Basel). The university acted as patronage partner and offered the event in Basel for the first time. Students from the Masterstudio Design improve incomplete Wikipedia entries on female athletes, artists and designers.

Prof. Nicole Schneider from the FHNW Academy of Art and Design Basel: "Female designers and artists are still significantly underrepresented on Wikipedia. With our participation in the Edit-a-thon, we as a university are making an active contribution to increasing this visibility and sustainably anchoring our achievements in the digital space. At the same time, we are teaching our students the basics they need to contribute to Wikipedia independently in the future."

Also new to the patronage is alliance F with the "Helvetia rennt!" project, which is committed to greater equality in sport and a stronger presence of women in management positions.

Sandra Plaza from alliance F: "'Helvetia calls!' has shown how we were able to increase the proportion of women in politics by joining forces. With 'Helvetia runs!' we want to transfer this dynamic to sport and strengthen more women in leading positions. Equality in sport cannot simply be decided - it has to be actively achieved. All the better to be part of this edit-a-thon."

Joint efforts against digital gaps

The participants created a total of 185 new articles or additions to existing entries, thereby increasing the visibility of women on Wikipedia. At the same time, they once again submitted suggestions for women who are considered relevant for a Wikipedia entry. The Edit-a-thon helps to close digital gaps and reduce bias in an increasingly AI-driven information environment.

The date of the next edition has already been set: The 15th Edit-a-thon "For more visibility on Wikipedia" will take place on April 21, 2026. Further information can be found at www.editathon.ch.