User:Enos733/LOWPROFILE
What (or who) is a low-profile individual? The term (and non-public figure in both previous and subsequent revisions) is used in Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons §Subjects notable only for one event (WP:BLP1E), and often misapplied in deletion discussions. This essay seeks to help provide a clearer definition of the term.
What is a low-profile individual
[edit ]There is no clear boundary between low-profile and high-profile individuals (public figures). In general, public figures generally command public attention, while low-profile individuals may have been covered in reliable sources without seeking such attention, often as part of their connection with a single event.
Low-profile individuals may even be interviewed or provide background information that isn't a major focus of a reliable source.
However, the more frequently an individual is interviewed or the larger geographic reach of the source of interviews, the more likely the individual could be considered a high-profile individual. Similarly, low-profile individuals may only receive significant coverage during a limited period of time, while longer duration of significant coverage may suggest a high-profile individual.
Care should be extended to the both the creation of a stand-alone page or the article content of low-profile individuals. Consideration should be made to redirect a low-profile individual back to a main page, such as George Holliday, who videotaped the Rodney King beating, which redirects to Rodney King, or into an existing list. While editors must take particular care when adding information about living persons to any Wikipedia page, editors of a page about a low-profile individual must especially provide a presumption of privacy, to "exercise restraint" and "include only material relevant to the person's notability" (WP:NPF).
Low-profile individuals may request to delete their articles through the Volunteer Request Team or through Articles for Deletion and editors "should seriously consider honoring such requests" (see WP:BLPREQUESTDELETE).
Specific considerations
[edit ]Athletes
[edit ]Athletes below the most professional level may be considered as low-profile individuals, despite coverage in reliable sources.
Many reliable sources, especially in areas serving as a home to a second (or lower)-division team may provide routine coverage of games and may interview athletes. This coverage, by itself, does not suggest a profile of a high-profile individual.
Even participation in a top-tier league or event does not provide the presumption of notability to an athlete (see WP:NSPORT).
Political candidates
[edit ]Political candidates may command public attention during the course of their candidacies. Candidates that lose their election may fail the 10 year test of significance and should be redirected to the appropriate page about the election, or deleted if not running for a national office.
While political candidates frequently do receive coverage from reliable sources about their campaign, many editors consider the election (announcement of candidacy to the election certification) one notable event and the candidates play a part of that event. (This is similar to the Olympics where the individual event may be notable but the participating athletes may not be). (See WP:POLOUTCOMES).
Public relations
[edit ]People who work in public (media) relations seek media attention, and may frequently covered in reliable sources. In their role, they represent the views of an employer, organization, or office and may or may not be expressing their personal views.
Care should be taken to determine whether there is reliable-sourced coverage about the life of the individual and the impact of their work, rather than the statements issued or uttered by the subject.
Other definitions
[edit ]Note, these definitions may have a US-centric view.
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Private figures are those ordinary individuals who have not sought out the public spotlight or thrust themselves into the discussion of highly public and contentious issues.
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While there is no set list of jobs or professions that would qualify as a public figure, generally speaking politicians, celebrities, and other professions that place someone in the public eye are considered public figures. A private figure is the opposite: someone who has not sought out the spotlight or public attention.
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Public figures are celebrities or high-profile individuals who have voluntarily thrust themselves into the public spotlight. On the other hand, private figures are everyday citizens who have not voluntarily sought publicity.
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Distinction between "general" and "limited purpose" public figures in US law:
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The Court later expanded the category of defamation plaintiffs required to prove "actual malice" to non-governmental "public figures," including persons with the power to command the public’s attention to rebut false charges (general public figures) and those who had voluntarily become involved in a public controversy to influence its outcome (limited purpose public figures).
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Limited-purpose public figures "have thrust themselves to the forefront of particular public controversies in order to influence the resolution of the issues involved."
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See also
[edit ]- WP:IPSOFACTO – Individuals may be ipso facto notable despite absence of significant coverage.