Self-published works, such as personal websites, blogs, self-published books and posts on social media, are produced without independent editorial oversight. This page summarises how to identify them and when they may be used.
Identifying self-published works[edit source]
A work is self-published when its author or subject controls its publication directly, with no independent editor, fact-checker or publisher in between. Vanity press books, personal blogs and company press releases are common examples.
When they may be used[edit source]
- For simple, uncontroversial facts about the author or subject itself, used with care.
- Never as the basis for strong claims about other people or organisations.
- Never to establish notability: notability requires sources that are independent of the subject, as explained at Bharatpedia:Reliable sources.