*Gender Checks are quick examinations of gender representation in individual news articles for the purpose of discovering trends over time. Click here to read more.
Website: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (stltoday.com)
On Stltoday.com, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 2:30 p.m. (MST) Thursday, Jan. 27, was titled “No federal disaster aid for Missouri tornado victims.” Its subject was about a decision that victims of storms around New Year’s would not be receiving federal disaster aid.
Here is its gender breakdown:
–Author: Female
–Human sources (listed in order mentioned):
1. Male, FEMA spokesman
2. Male, mayor
3. Male, governor (paraphrased)
4. Male, PIO for related agency (paraphrased)
Notes/analysis: All of the sources in the article were male. No comments were yet included from the actual victims of the storm.
Website: St. Louis Beacon
On the St. Louis Beacon, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 2:15 p.m. (MST) Thursday, Jan. 27, was titled “Educators welcome Obama’s emphasis on schools.” Its subject was local education officials’ responses and opinions on President Barack Obama’s comments about education in Tuesday’s State of the Union address.
Here is its gender breakdown:
–Author: Male
–Human sources (listed in order mentioned):
1. Male, U.S. president
2. Female, president of Missouri NEA
3. Male, dean of education at university
4. Male, executive director of charter school group
5. Female, state education commissioner
Notes/analysis: The article includes a balanced gender mix of state sources in education. The article also includes two mug shots — one of a female and one of a male source.
The Gender Report 