Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Onward State (2nd nomination)

Onward State

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Unofficial student-run blog on Penn State topics. The only basis for notability is winning a "Best Alternative Media Outlet" online poll at USNWR's side-blogs, not the main periodical. The website was not even substantially profiled. It was not selected on any other basis than online votes, which the blog attributed to "Facebook, families, a giant student body, a legitimately good blog." That's not significant coverage as require under WP:N. Fails Wikipedia:Notability (web) to boot. GrapedApe (talk) 21:25, 23 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Keep: U.S. News & World Report is a notable magazine in print and online. Winning a poll against Yale is a sign of notability. To quote Kristen Karas' report from Collegian Online: Yale student Max Uhlenhuth, the self-described "go-to guy" for the Timothy Dwight blog, had expected his blog to win because it had been leading in the poll. "It was a rough loss," he said. "But Penn State has a great blog, so no hard feelings." Even their closest competitor admitted Penn State has a great blog. Pmresource (talk) 22:38, 23 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- And yet, it was an online poll. Not a legitimate US News article.--GrapedApe (talk) 23:29, 23 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- The New York Times has a blog and online polls. WP:SPS notes: Some news outlets host interactive columns they call blogs, and these may be acceptable as sources so long as the writers are professional journalists or are professionals in the field on which they write and the blog is subject to the news outlet's full editorial control. Pmresource (talk) 00:13, 24 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Note: This debate has been included in the list of Websites-related deletion discussions. • Gene93k (talk) 23:30, 23 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Merge Into Pennsylvania State University. The reference in US News & World Report was a one-shot mention - the blog does not appear to have generated any national (or even regional) notability beyond this single article. I might also add that the earlier AfD was improperly closed, with only one person participating in the discussion - it should have been extended until there was a proper debate. And Adoil Descended (talk) 23:39, 23 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Another mention from Mashable here. Pmresource (talk) 00:20, 24 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

...which is not a reliable source as required by the general notability guideline: "... significant coverage in reliable sources ..."--GrapedApe (talk) 02:39, 24 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

That's debatable. A quick look at Google Scholar will show you that Mashable is frequently cited in a widespread and consistent manner. It's a professional blog with editorial staff and credentialed members. Time Magazine noted Mashable as one the 25 best blogs in 2009. Mashable is not only reliable, it's notable as well. Also, Greg Ferenstein is a professional journalist that has results in Google News, Google Books and Google Scholar. This is a technology context where professional blogs are widely accepted as reliable sources by mainstream publications and the academe. Pmresource (talk) 09:51, 29 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Delete (or, alternatively, redirect to Penn State). Winning an online poll is a sign of notability? Absolutely not. No significant coverage in reliable sources. Neutrality^talk 08:24, 24 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]