According to BlogPulse.com, consumer references and blog links to Wikipedia have increased steadily in recent months, fueled by increased blog traffic and a need for real-time updates about breaking news events. Blog references to Wikipedia have tripled since Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf Coast in late August. More than twice as many bloggers now refer to the term “Wikipedia” as they do to the traditional term “encyclopedia,” and bloggers mention Wikipedia six times more frequently than they mention Encyclopedia Britannica’s web site.

“There’s no question that Wikipedia is finding an important ‘tipping point’ on the Internet,” said Pete Blackshaw, Intelliseek CMO. “Blog discussion and commentary clearly suggest that this tool represents an indispensable resource for informed blog postings and conversations.”