Objective analysis of press photographs

The issue of image retrieval is part of a larger dilemma in information science: the problem of retrieving non-traditional forms of information sources. This problem is amplified by the digitization of many information sources, but images stand out from other information sources, as the technologies used to produce them are far ahead of those used to retrieve them. Because images are inherently multifaceted, they possess numerous features, each of which could be the subject of independent research in a particular field. Images are often used in contexts and fields far removed from their original purpose. Therefore, the community of users and researchers of images comprises diverse and varied groups, including journalists, engineers, historians, teachers, artists, photographers, publishers, advertising agencies, and the general public. This book attempts to provide a general framework for this issue, examine its principles and techniques, and propose a set of specifications for establishing a model system for retrieving journalistic images. This book serves as a practical guide for information institutions and Arab media organizations, especially since many of them are working to digitize and archive their image collections without a sound scientific or academic basis. The issue of "e;image retrieval"e; remains one of the most complex and still developing areas of information science, a topic far from being fully explored. Therefore, this book represents a call to research and develop this field, and we hope it will be a valuable addition to the Arabic library in both the field of information retrieval and the field of journalism.