In many ways the controversies surrounding Wikipedia parallel the debate between journalists and bloggers.

While NewAssignment tries to find a medium in that debate, Citizendium, created by Wikipedia founder Larry Sanger, is hoping to be a model to fix issues that plague the online encyclopedia.

Citizendium is based on the idea that while the crowd is essential, experts are still a valuable resource. Sanger has been against the free for all nature of Wikipedia for years, and while this is part of its appeal, it can lead to inaccuracies and often turns what is otherwise a powerful tool into an ideological battleground.

Meanwhile the Encyclopedia Britannica, the old guard, has been trying to figure out its place in a connected world, all the while pouting that their methods of professionally produced content is the most reliable.

And Britannica has a lot to offer. They have been publishing since 1768. Citizendium only has something to gain by taking parts of their method and mixing it with Wikipedia’s.

The crowd is the key ingredient, but using experts to maintain standards and decorum over what the crowd creates might produce a better experience for all.

It seems the air is ripe for a melding between experts and crowds in several arenas. Problems will most certainly arise, like determining who is an “expert,” and NewAssignment will also have to figure out where to relegate duties, but nobody said figuring out a happy medium between smart mobs and professionals, who hold firm to their posts at the top of institutions, was going to be easy.

Post Script: I have found other examples where this debate between the crowd and expert is taking place. But I’m certain there are more out there.