Employment Security edits Wikipedia

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:37:18 -0400

The state Employment Security Commission edited Wikipedia entries on "Babylon 5," cookbook author Sandra Lee and the town of Wendell.

The most interesting change, however, was an October 2006 edit to the entry on UNC-Chapel Hill football coach Butch Davis, who was then under consideration for the job.

An ESC employee wrote that it was a "failed program."

If Davis takes the job he will be rebuilding a program that has bottomed and is on life support. The aluminum glare from the stands from the lack of fan interest is indicative of UNC's support of football.

On another occasion, someone at the same computer undid vandalism to N.C. State coach Chuck Amato's entry. Another ESC computer, meantime, was used to vandalize Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul's entry.

The previously anonymous changes were revealed using Wikiscanner.

Democratic edits to Wikipedia

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:56:01 -0400

The N.C. Democratic Party edited Wikipedia entries on Auditor Les Merritt, Sen. Katie Dorsett and UNC basketball coach Dean Smith.

A new software program called Wikiscanner revealed the edits, which previously were anonymous.

The changes to Merritt's are the most interesting. Someone using a computer at the state party's headquarters reworded criticism of Merritt's handling of a voter registration audit and added information about a controversial part-time job:

As of June 2007, Merritt has come under scrutiny because of an attempt to block a Senate Bill that would have authorized same day registration. Merritt's based his concern on a report his office produced which he quickly withdrew due to substantial inaccuracies.

The other revisions added information on Dorsett's background, noted Smith's role in Devout Democrats, a political action committee that ran ads about religious Democrats, and fixed a misspelling in former Kinston City Councilman Van Braxton's bio.

All of the changes can be viewed here.