When social media are your source

Scifleet, P; Henninger, M; Albright, KH

When social media are your source

Scifleet, P Henninger, M

Albright, KH

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Publisher:: University of Sheffield
Publication Type:: Conference Proceeding
Citation:: Information Research - Eighth International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science, 2013, 18 (3), pp. 1 - 14
Issue Date:: 2013-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Scifleet, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Henninger, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8366-3867	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Albright, KH	en_US
dc.contributor.editor	Jeppe Nicolaisen	en_US
dc.date	2013-08-19	en_US
dc.date.issued	2013-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Information Research - Eighth International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science, 2013, 18 (3), pp. 1 - 14	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1368-1613	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/26608
dc.description.abstract	Introduction. This study investigates the challenges that arise when social media are acquired as an information resource to be maintained, studied, re-purposed and re-used. The aim of the research is to understand how the information architecture of the messages contributes to social interactions; how the record of an event might be collected and understood; and how knowledge of architecture can contribute to other social studies. In doing so, the research contributes to an understanding of the custodianship of an increasingly important cultural document. Method. A qualitative media analysis was undertaken of real time social media feeds documenting a significant national event, the flooding of the Riverina in Australia during March 2012. By combining a qualitative content analysis of communications with analysis of their materiality and form, the investigation presents an integrated approach for understanding the social dimensions of information architecture. Analysis. During the flood, communications were sampled from Facebook, Google Plus and Twitter activity streams encapsulated in standardised metadata, allowing the same questions to be asked across each stream. Results. The architecture of messages, communicative intent of authors and topics of conversation are presented, reporting on the organisation of knowledge in social media and demonstrating how different social media document the same event differently. Conclusions. The research departs from the direction of other studies in social media and crises management, with their attention on improving communications, to investigate the social arc of communication between people, raising new and important directions for library and information science.	en_US
dc.publisher	University of Sheffield	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Information Research - Eighth International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Information & Library Sciences	en_US
dc.title	When social media are your source	en_US
dc.type	Conference Proceeding
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	18	en_US
utslib.location	UK	en_US
utslib.location.activity	Copenhagen, Denmark	en_US
utslib.for	0807 Library and Information Studies	en_US
utslib.for	0806 Information Systems	en_US
dc.location.activity	Copenhagen, Denmark	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/e-Press
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/IKM and Digital Studies Program
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.consider-herdc	true	en_US
pubs.finish-date	2013-08-22	en_US
pubs.issue	3	en_US
pubs.place-of-publication	UK	en_US
pubs.start-date	2013-08-19	en_US
pubs.volume	18	en_US

Abstract:

Introduction. This study investigates the challenges that arise when social media are acquired as an information resource to be maintained, studied, re-purposed and re-used. The aim of the research is to understand how the information architecture of the messages contributes to social interactions; how the record of an event might be collected and understood; and how knowledge of architecture can contribute to other social studies. In doing so, the research contributes to an understanding of the custodianship of an increasingly important cultural document. Method. A qualitative media analysis was undertaken of real time social media feeds documenting a significant national event, the flooding of the Riverina in Australia during March 2012. By combining a qualitative content analysis of communications with analysis of their materiality and form, the investigation presents an integrated approach for understanding the social dimensions of information architecture. Analysis. During the flood, communications were sampled from Facebook, Google Plus and Twitter activity streams encapsulated in standardised metadata, allowing the same questions to be asked across each stream. Results. The architecture of messages, communicative intent of authors and topics of conversation are presented, reporting on the organisation of knowledge in social media and demonstrating how different social media document the same event differently. Conclusions. The research departs from the direction of other studies in social media and crises management, with their attention on improving communications, to investigate the social arc of communication between people, raising new and important directions for library and information science.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/26608