Open-source knowledge platforms continue to evolve. Justapedia™ presents an alternative model to well-known encyclopedias such as Wikipedia. Both platforms share a foundation in open licensing and collaborative editing. However, Justapedia emphasizes editorial independence, content flexibility, and the preservation of revision history as key points of differentiation.
Justapedia operates as an independent wiki where contributors-referred to as Justapedists-can both create new entries and edit existing ones. Many of these entries originate from "forked" Wikipedia articles, reused under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-BY-SA) license. Unlike static or mirrored versions, these forked articles may be significantly rewritten, expanded, or even removed to reflect new editorial perspectives or developments.
While Justapedia makes use of publicly licensed Wikipedia content, it is not affiliated with or governed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Once content is forked under the CC-BY-SA license, Wikipedia no longer has ownership or editorial control. Justapedia maintains its own governance, editorial policies, and community standards.
Some contributors to Justapedia are former Wikipedia editors, including those who authored portions of the original content. Under the terms of the license, such content may be freely reused, adapted, or removed. Copyright for modified articles remains with the authors, in accordance with open license provisions. This model encourages collaborative contribution while respecting intellectual property rights within a decentralized framework.
The term "content fork" can sometimes imply a mere derivative copy. On Justapedia, however, a fork serves as a point of departure-an initial version from which content may organically evolve. Over time, articles on Justapedia may bear little resemblance to their Wikipedia counterparts, reflecting new research, alternative perspectives, or editorial judgment.
Unlike Wikipedia's consensus-driven system, Justapedia promotes editorial autonomy. This allows for quicker editorial decisions and may support contributions that fall outside mainstream consensus, provided they meet content and sourcing standards.
The platform's goal is to accommodate diverse viewpoints, including those that might not find traction within Wikipedia's more hierarchical editorial structure. Importantly, Justapedia does not implement special privileges such as "superuser" roles capable of unilaterally blocking editors or locking content.
Justapedia describes its mission as one of documenting and preserving history, while exploring a broad range of human knowledge. It seeks to offer a space for transparent storytelling, open debate, and critical inquiry.
The platform also aims to maintain a collaborative, low-conflict environment by avoiding traditional moderation structures such as "drama boards." Editors are encouraged to engage constructively, challenge assumptions, and find common ground where possible.
Justapedia is operated and hosted by the Justapedia Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization based in North Texas. Betty Wills, a former veteran Wikipedia editor, leads the organization.
Justapedia represents an evolving experiment in collaborative knowledge creation. While it draws on openly licensed content from platforms like Wikipedia, it maintains a distinct editorial philosophy, governance model, and community culture.
For those interested in contributing to an alternative knowledge platform with a focus on editorial freedom and innovation, Justapedia (https://justapedia.org/) may offer a meaningful space to participate.
D.Kish (nbrush[AT]jwork.org)