News outlets urged to preserve wayback machine archives

The Save The Archive campaign is urging major news outlets, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, and USA Today, to preserve their online archives on the Wayback Machine [Save The Archive]. The Wayback Machine, a digital archive of the internet, allows users to access historical versions of websites, including news articles.

── What shipped ──

The campaign highlights the importance of preserving online news content, which can be lost due to website updates, closures, or other technical issues. By preserving their archives on the Wayback Machine, news outlets can ensure that their content remains accessible to the public, even if their websites are no longer available.

According to the Internet Archive, the organization behind the Wayback Machine, over 330 billion web pages have been archived since 2001 [Internet Archive]. However, many news outlets have not preserved their archives on the platform, putting their content at risk of being lost forever.

── Why it matters ──

Preserving online news content is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it allows the public to access historical information and understand the context of current events. Secondly, it enables researchers and journalists to fact-check and analyze news articles, which is essential for holding those in power accountable. Finally, it ensures that the historical record of online news content is preserved for future generations.

── Editor's take ──

The campaign to preserve news archives on the Wayback Machine is not just about preserving history, but also about ensuring that the public has access to accurate and reliable information. By preserving their archives, news outlets can demonstrate their commitment to transparency and accountability, which is essential for maintaining trust in the media.