[Commlist] New book: To See and Be Seen: The Environments, Interactions, and Identities Behind News Images

Whether inscribed in physical media, projected on surfaces, or viewed on 
digital devices, we find ourselves constantly inundated with streams of 
visual data. Yet, we know surprisingly little about how these images are 
made, especially in journalistic contexts where representations are 
long-lasting and where repercussions can be dramatic.

"To See and Be Seen: The Environments, Interactions, and Identities 
Behind News Images" (https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781786612816/) considers 
some of the ideological, aesthetic, pragmatic, institutional, cultural, 
commercial, environmental, and psychological forces that consciously or 
otherwise shape the production of news images and subsequently influence 
their reception.

T. J. Thomson examines the expectations, experiences, and reactions of 
those depicted by visual journalists and considers other relevant 
factors: how do everyday people perceive cameras and those who operate 
them? How are identities visually represented and presented to different 
audiences? And how does the physical and the socially constructed 
environment shape those depictions?

The results of Thomson’s research provide one of the first empirical and 
real-time glimpses into the experience of being in front of a 
journalist’s lens. “To See and Be Seen” enables us to understand the 
stories behind images by considering the environment in which such 
images are made, the exchange (if one occurred) between the 
camera-wielding observer and the observed, the identities of both 
parties, and how they react to the representations that are created.

Advance praise for the book includes:

Visual communications enthusiasts rejoice! T.J. Thomson masterfully 
synthesizes various facets of the prism of the news visual, from its 
production, to the role of the visual in everyday life, and to the 
experiences of those visually depicted in the news. The fusion of 
well-established literature and newly-published research explored from 
myriad ontological perspectives makes To See and Be Seen an invaluable 
overview of the visual newsscape.
— Tara Marie Mortensen, Associate Professor, College of Information and 
Communications, University of South Carolina

T.J. Thomson offers a rare look at the relationship between 
photojournalists and their subjects. Using a series of carefully 
crafted, grounded studies, To See and Be Seen covers terrain rich in 
theoretical and ethical significance. Brimming with detail and empathy, 
Thomson’s research is valuable to anyone wishing to understand the human 
impact of visual journalism in the digital era.
— Mary Angela Bock, Associate Professor, School of Journalism, 
University of Texas at Austin

Visual news has been part of our life arguably since the Stone Age. But 
until recently there has been relatively little empirical research into 
the production and consumption of visual journalism. To See and Be Seen: 
The Environments, Interactions and Identities Behind News Images by T.J. 
Thomson admirably fills a gap in exploring existing understanding of how 
journalists and audiences create images. As revealing and important in 
this era of instant “live-from-ground-zero” coverage, social media and 
reality-bending avatars is Thomson’s study of emotional dynamics of 
personality and location in news, from the point of view of both the 
industrial professional and independent creator. To See and Be Seen is 
that rare book that will satisfy scholars, students, and practitioners 
alike.
— David D. Perlmutter, Dean and Professor of the College of Media & 
Communication, Texas Tech University, and author of Blogwars: The New 
Political Battleground

T.J. Thomson writes a refreshing book about photography and how visual 
journalists’ mediated visuals are made. He focuses on the historical 
context of images, while more importantly giving voice to image creators 
through both context and case studies. As a former photo editor turned 
visual scholar, Thomson is sensitive to the aesthetics of 
photojournalism while aiming to help readers and viewers go beyond 
simple picture making. This book is worth the read!
— Gabriel Tait, Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism, Ball 
State University

The book is available in hardback and eBook currently, with a paperback 
edition to be printed in 2020.


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