Remembering Rob KlingRemembering Rob Kling

AOiRAOiR Toronto, October 2003Toronto, October 2003

Communication Regimes Communication Regimes and Digital Imagesand Digital Images

Understanding communication Understanding communication regimes, digital photography and regimes, digital photography and the internetthe internet

Eric T. Meyer & Rob KlingEric T. Meyer & Rob KlingSchool of Library and Information ScienceSchool of Library and Information ScienceIndiana UniversityIndiana University

Overview of projectOverview of project

Broadly: IT and Social ChangeBroadly: IT and Social ChangeSpecifically: Changes in Specifically: Changes in communication regimes with the communication regimes with the introduction and adoption of digital introduction and adoption of digital photography and internet transmission photography and internet transmission of images into communication regimes of images into communication regimes with existing systems based on with existing systems based on ““wetwet””photographic technologiesphotographic technologies

Social InformaticsSocial Informatics

Social informatics (SI) is the systematic, Social informatics (SI) is the systematic, interdisciplinary study of the design, uses and interdisciplinary study of the design, uses and consequences of information technologies (IT) that consequences of information technologies (IT) that takes into account their interaction with institutional takes into account their interaction with institutional and cultural contexts.and cultural contexts. Thus, it is the study of the Thus, it is the study of the social aspects of computers, telecommunications, social aspects of computers, telecommunications, and related technologies, and examines issues such and related technologies, and examines issues such as the ways that IT shape organizational and social as the ways that IT shape organizational and social relations, or the ways in which social forces relations, or the ways in which social forces influence the use and design ofinfluence the use and design of IT.IT.

-- Kling 2001, Encyclopedia of LISKling 2001, Encyclopedia of LIS

Manipulation of PhotographsManipulation of Photographs

The Case of the The Case of the CottinglyCottingly FairiesFairies

PhotojournalismPhotojournalism

Manipulation of PhotographsManipulation of Photographs

LA Times photographer Brian Walski was fired for this manipulated image in April 2003. The soldier and the group of people were taken in different shots.

San Diego’s North County Times issued an apology for removing the name of their competing newspaper from this image in July 2003.

PhotojournalismPhotojournalismInvestigators / Police Forensic Investigators / Police Forensic PhotographyPhotography

Manipulation of PhotographsManipulation of Photographs

Fair and reasonably Fair and reasonably accurate representationaccurate representation

Source: Parke, R.L., 2003. “Basic Evidence Photography.”

SocioSocio--Technical Interaction Technical Interaction Network (STIN) FrameworkNetwork (STIN) Framework

The social and the technical are not meaningfully The social and the technical are not meaningfully separableseparableTheories of social behavior can and should Theories of social behavior can and should influence technical design choicesinfluence technical design choicesSystem participants are embedded in multiple, System participants are embedded in multiple, overlapping, and nonoverlapping, and non--technologically mediated technologically mediated social relationships, and therefore may have social relationships, and therefore may have multiple, often conflicting, commitments.multiple, often conflicting, commitments.Sustainability and routine operations are critical, Sustainability and routine operations are critical, and must play a key role in determining design.and must play a key role in determining design.

-- Kling et. al., 2003Kling et. al., 2003

Yes Yes Yes Yes -- Stigma within profession if Stigma within profession if uncovereduncovered

Yes Yes Yes Yes -- Fear of loss of job / career Fear of loss of job / career

Yes Yes Yes Yes -- Strong regime pressure not to Strong regime pressure not to manipulate manipulate

Possibly, but not in Possibly, but not in most casesmost cases

Yes Yes + Deadline pressures to get the + Deadline pressures to get the right image quickly right image quickly

Yes Yes Yes Yes + Technical manipulations to + Technical manipulations to better convey what photographer better convey what photographer saw saw

Unlikely Unlikely Yes Yes + Desire for + Desire for ‘‘famefame’’ or widespread or widespread publication of image publication of image

Evidence Evidence PhotographyPhotography

PhotoPhoto--journalismjournalism

Tension Tension (either to manipulate (either to manipulate [[++] or not to manipulate [] or not to manipulate [--])])

Tensions in Digital Image Manipulation

NoNoNoNo-- Stigma within profession if Stigma within profession if uncovereduncovered

NoNoNoNo-- Fear of loss of job / career Fear of loss of job / career

NoNoNoNo-- Strong regime pressure not to Strong regime pressure not to manipulate manipulate

Not usuallyNot usuallyNot usuallyNot usually+ Deadline pressures to get the + Deadline pressures to get the right image quickly right image quickly

PossiblyPossiblyYes Yes + Technical manipulations to + Technical manipulations to better convey what photographer better convey what photographer saw saw

NoNoYes Yes + Desire for + Desire for ‘‘famefame’’ or widespread or widespread publication of image publication of image

Family / Family / HobbyistsHobbyists

ArtistsArtistsTension Tension (either to manipulate (either to manipulate [[++] or not to manipulate [] or not to manipulate [--])])

Tensions in Digital Image Manipulation

SocioSocio--Technical Interaction Technical Interaction Network (STIN) FrameworkNetwork (STIN) Framework

What are the pressures and What are the pressures and impediments to adopting digital impediments to adopting digital techniques?techniques?Who is newly involved when Who is newly involved when communication regimes become communication regimes become digital?digital?Which formerly involved actors Which formerly involved actors become excluded?become excluded?What conflicts arise?What conflicts arise?

STIN FrameworkSTIN Framework (cont.)(cont.)

How do changes in involved actors How do changes in involved actors change:change:–– The process?The process?–– The types of communications?The types of communications?

How are outside actors affected?How are outside actors affected?Regarding alteration of photographs:Regarding alteration of photographs:–– What are the pressures to manipulate?What are the pressures to manipulate?–– What are the impediments?What are the impediments?

STIN FrameworkSTIN Framework (cont.)(cont.)

Elements of STIN AnalysisElements of STIN Analysis–– Social construction of technology (SCOT)Social construction of technology (SCOT)–– ActorActor--network theory (ANT)network theory (ANT)–– Deeply embedded social relationshipsDeeply embedded social relationships–– Actors embedded within disciplinary Actors embedded within disciplinary

matricesmatrices

ReferencesReferences

Kling, R., Kling, R., McKimMcKim, G., & King, A. (2003). A Bit More to IT: , G., & King, A. (2003). A Bit More to IT: Scholarly Communication Forums as SocioScholarly Communication Forums as Socio--Technical Technical Interaction Networks. Journal of the American Society for Interaction Networks. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 54(1), 46Information Science and Technology, 54(1), 46--67.67.

Kling, R. (1999). What is Social Informatics and Why Does it Kling, R. (1999). What is Social Informatics and Why Does it Matter? DMatter? D--Lib Magazine, 5(1).Lib Magazine, 5(1).

Eric T. MeyerEric T. Meyeretmeyer@indiana.eduetmeyer@indiana.edu

http://http://mypage.iu.edu/~etmeyermypage.iu.edu/~etmeyer

Rob Kling, 1944-2003