[prophetjohn]

I don't get the reluctance to use advertising. Wikipedia could place one small, unobtrusive text ad on each page and they would have more than enough money to operate their business and pay their employees what they deserve. If there's money left over, they could offer scholarships or make charitable donations. I don't think that placing small ads on a page in an effort to keep information free and prosperous amounts to propaganda or a loss of independence.

[chaddeshon]

As if you need to buy ad space to put propaganda on Wikipedia.

[ypcx]

Those who know, they don't need to be told. Those who don't, they will probably fight / downvote you because they think that if something has so much positive, then how it could contain any negative? That's ok, our brains are hardwired to simplify things. There have been numerous studies, and numerous discussions e.g. on Slashdot, on this topic, and the truth about the bad about Wikipedia is truly horrific. But I'm an optimist, I believe they/we will deal with that at some point.