"Main Idea of Online Information"

Making an encyclopedia used to be a big job. First, a company used surveys to find out  about new topics in different fields. Then, the company hired experts to write articles about the topics. The experts defined new ideas and terms and explained their topics. Editors read the pieces and made changes to the text. The pieces were put together in many volumes. Finally, salespeople went from house to house to sell the encyclopedia.  The company paid for everything, so all the writing in the encyclopedia was the company's property.

Then, in 2001, Wikipedia caused a major shift. Wikipedia doesn't depend on sales. It asks people to give money, and those contributions pay for everything. Instead of experts, Wikipedia allows the users to write about anything. Instead of editors, the users correct any mistakes they see. The encyclopedia company uses the law to protect its texts; Wikipedia gives everyone the legal right to copy its texts. The debate today is whether the changes caused by Wikipedia are good for society or not Most people are happy to use Wikipedia for free. But are they aware that many people have lost paid work because of this? Wikipedia caused many encylopedia companies to go out of business. Is this a good thing? Wikipedia has caused a big change in one industry. will a similar process change others?

main idea:
1. Making an encyclopedia used to be a big job.
2. Then, in 2001, wikipedia caused a major shift.
3. Instead of editors, the users correct any mistakes they see.
4. The debate today is whether the changes caused by wikipedia are good for society or not.
5. Wikipedia caused many encyclopedia companies to go out of business.