Sources are the foundation of every Wikipedia article. But not every source is equal. Understanding what counts — and what does not — is the single most important insight before starting a Wikipedia project.

The three tests

Wikipedia sources must pass three tests: independent, reliable, substantive.

Independent means the source has no financial, personal, or editorial interest in the subject. The subject's own website, press releases, and paid placements fail this test.

Reliable means the source has editorial oversight and a verifiable reputation for accuracy. A fact-checked newspaper article is reliable. A random blog post is not.

Substantive means the source actually discusses the subject, not just mentions it. A full interview is substantive. A one-line reference in a list is not.

What counts

First, reputable newspapers and magazines: NRC, Volkskrant, FD, De Tijd, De Standaard, De Morgen. Also, academic publications in peer-reviewed journals. In addition, books by recognized publishers. Furthermore, documentaries by established broadcasters. And finally, specialist trade publications with editorial oversight.

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What usually does not count

However, your own website, LinkedIn profiles and press releases fail — even when picked up by news outlets, a press release is still a press release. Also excluded: directory listings (Chamber of Commerce, Yellow Pages), advertorials, paid profiles, self-published books, and personal blogs.

Edge cases

Trade press. Often counts, but check for editorial oversight. For example, a professional magazine with editors and fact-checking counts; however, a company-sponsored trade publication usually does not.

Local newspapers. These count, though they carry less weight than national papers. Still, multiple local references can establish notability for local subjects.

Podcasts and video interviews. Also, these count when the host has editorial reputation and the content is substantive. For instance, a guest appearance on a well-known podcast counts; but a sponsored podcast segment does not.

University websites. A professor's own university page is not independent. However, a university press release about a research finding, picked up by independent media, can count — though the independent media is the real source.

How to build your source matrix

First, make a list of every piece of substantial coverage about you. Then for each, ask: independent? reliable? substantive? Next, keep only the ones that pass all three tests. Therefore, three or more typically meets the minimum threshold — but more is better, and substantive is more important than quantity.

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The strategic insight

Ultimately, if your source base is weak, the best investment is not more Wikipedia attempts — instead, it is generating more independent media coverage first. In fact, a well-timed interview in a reputable outlet is worth more than ten attempts at Wikipedia placement.

Frequently asked questions

Which sources does Wikipedia accept?
Every source must pass three tests: independent, reliable and substantive. Independent means no financial, personal or editorial interest in the subject. Reliable means editorial oversight and a verifiable reputation for accuracy. Substantive means the source actually discusses the subject rather than just mentioning it. Typical accepted sources include reputable newspapers like NRC, Volkskrant, FD, De Standaard, academic peer-reviewed journals, books from recognized publishers, broadcaster documentaries and trade press with genuine editorial oversight.
Do press releases count as Wikipedia sources?
No. A press release fails the independence test because it originates from the subject, and republishing by a news outlet does not change its nature. Other sources that typically do not qualify: own websites, LinkedIn profiles, directory listings such as Chamber of Commerce and Yellow Pages, advertorials, paid profiles, self-published books and personal blogs. When in doubt, ask whether the content was editorially initiated and fact-checked by an outlet independent of the subject.
What about trade press and local newspapers?
Trade press often counts, but check for real editorial oversight. A professional magazine with editors and fact-checking qualifies, while a company-sponsored trade publication usually does not. Local newspapers count too, though with less weight than national papers, and multiple local references can establish notability for local subjects. Podcasts and video interviews can also qualify when the host has editorial reputation and the content is substantive, but sponsored segments and paid placements do not.
How many sources are needed?
Three or more independent, reliable, substantive sources typically meets the minimum, though more is better and substantive weight matters more than raw count. Build a source matrix: list every piece of coverage and ask for each whether it is independent, reliable and substantive, then keep only items passing all three tests. If the base is weak, the best investment is new independent media coverage first; a single well-timed reputable interview outweighs many Wikipedia placement attempts.