MediaWiki talk:Watchlist-messages

Wikipedia has five kinds of top-of-page messages that can be used to convey information or announcements to readers and editors.

The "Sitenotice", found at MediaWiki:Sitenotice, is displayed at the top of all pages for all logged-in users, and for anonymous users if the following message is empty.
MediaWiki:Anonnotice can be used to display information only to anonymous/IP users, not logged-in users. Alternatively, by 'blanking' the anonnotice and replacing it with nothing (not even a space or empty paragraph!), then the sitenotice can be used as a "logged-in users only" notice to display information only to editors. When "Anonnotice" contains nothing, no notice is shown to anonymous users. When it contains "-" it disables the message in favour of Sitenotice. If it contains anything else, it will be rendered to anonymous users instead of the Sitenotice (including a "hide" button).
MediaWiki:Watchlist-messages is displayed at the top of Special:Watchlist for all users who use this feature.
The CentralNotice, found at meta:Special:CentralNotice, is an extension which can display banners at the top of a select group of Wikimedia sites simultaneously.
Geonotice, at Wikipedia:Geonotice, allows location-specific notices – and is a candidate for integration into MediaWiki.

Archives

Archive 1	Archive 2	Archive 3
Archive 4	Archive 5	Archive 6
Archive 7	Archive 8	Archive 9
Archive 10	Archive 11	Archive 12
Archive 13

This page has archives. Sections older than 14 days may be automatically archived by when more than 3 sections are present.

See Wikipedia:Watchlist notices for documentation of how to add, maintain or hide watchlist notices.

Typical message types and durations

After watching this talk page for a couple years, I decided to write down some of the unwritten norms / typical practices. It's at MediaWiki talk:Watchlist-messages/doc#Message types and durations if anyone would like to read/modify. Dropping a link here since folks don't usually watchlist /doc pages. Thanks. –Novem Linguae (talk) 18:35, 20 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The World Destubathon

The World Destubathon is scheduled to begin on 16 June and will run until 13 July. It's an editing contest and editathon to improve stub articles and longer, poorer quality articles for every country and topic.

Please could a watchlist notice be created to encourage people to sign up? Perhaps something like:

Editors are invited to sign up for The World Destubathon, a writing contest and editathon running from 16 June to 13 July that aims to improve as many of our 3 million + stub articles as possible. Over $3300 in vouchers can be won to buy books to create further content.

A similar notice ran in April in support of The European Destubathon (request).

Perhaps the watchlist notice could appear in the lead up to the start of the competition? And if it's not too much of an ask there could be a different message when the competition starts?

Pinging User:Dr. Blofeld as the competition organiser. Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 10:12, 30 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Richard Nevell (WMUK): We can run it once for a week whenever you want. --qedk (t 愛 c) 11:50, 30 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@QEDK: 2-9 June sounds like a good slot, give them a week-two weeks notice.♦ Dr. Blofeld 13:49, 30 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Done With adjustments for conciseness. --qedk (t 愛 c) 18:00, 30 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, appreciated. ♦ Dr. Blofeld 16:34, 1 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 09:11, 3 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

2025 Developing Countries WikiContest

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

Hey everyone! The DCWC is continuing for a second year, so I'd appreciate if this message could go up until July 1.

Combat systemic bias on Wikipedia and earn special awards by signing up now for the 2025 Developing Countries WikiContest!

Let me know if you have any questions! (Pinging Arconning and sawyer777.) —TechnoSquirrel69 (sigh) 02:10, 18 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Done Sohom (talk) 02:25, 18 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

June Signpost notice

It is requested that an edit be made to the interface page at MediaWiki:Watchlist-messages. (edit · history · last · links)

This template must be followed by a complete and specific description of the request, so that an editor unfamiliar with the subject matter could complete the requested edit immediately.

Edit requests to fully protected pages should only be used for edits that are either uncontroversial or supported by consensus. If the proposed edit might be controversial, discuss it on the protected page's talk page before using this template. When the request has been completed or denied, please add the |answered=yes parameter to deactivate the template.

The June edition is now out. ☆ Bri (talk) 02:26, 24 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]