新聞圖像之相關性準則研究

A Study on the Relevance Criteria for Journalistic Images

選擇和編輯圖像為新聞圖像人員每天關鍵的例行工作，本研究目的在收集實證數據及分析新聞圖像人員之圖像檢索相關性判斷行為。30名參與本實證研究之受測者來自美國新澤西、紐約及費城之報紙和雜誌社新聞圖像專業人員，本研究結果歸納出受測者在檢索具體、一般及抽象概念圖像任務中，共運用37種相關性準則選取圖像。結果亦顯示，三種不同的圖像檢索任務中所使用的相關性準則存有差異性。在檢索具體概念圖像時，受測者較依賴圖照中之視覺內容來判斷相關圖照；在檢索一般概念圖像中，受測者多依個人的感受來判斷相關圖照，而在抽象概念圖像檢索中，受測者似乎運用較多個人知識和經驗來選取相關圖照。此結果推論，檢索者之檢索結果相關性決策過程與其之檢索情境條件相關聯。本研究結果建議，一種能讓檢索者直接與系統互動，並能在檢索過程中對檢索之圖像進行相關性評比的高效能相關回饋機制是圖像檢索系統所需具備的。

Selecting and editing images for news are critical components in photojournalism professionals' daily work routines. The aim of this study is to collect empirical data on photojournalism professionals' image-searching behavior on relevance judgments. A multimethod research design for data collection was applied, including pretest questionnaires, task scenarios and posttest interviews. The study involves 30 participants from newspaper and magazine companies in New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia. The results identify a total of 37 categories of relevance criteria applied by the participants when determining the relevance of images in the specific, general and subjective image searches. The findings show that there is a difference in using relevance criteria among the three searches. In the specific search, the participants relied more on visual content of the photos; in the general search, the participants needed to rely on personal feelings; while in the subjective search, the participants were more likely to use their knowledge and experience. It indicates that the process of relevance decision-making is situational. The results suggest that a more effective and efficient relevance feedback mechanism that enables a user to interact with the system and rate the relevance of the retrieved images during the retrieval process is necessary.