*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: Seattle Times
On the Seattle Times, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 3:15 p.m. (MST) Tuesday, Feb. 8, was titled “Kemper Freeman quits Bellevue business group his father founded.” Its subject was the departure of a key figure from a business association over differences in opinion, including over an endorsement of light rail.
Here is its gender breakdown:
–Author: Female
–Human sources (listed in order mentioned):
1. Male, developer (main subject)
2. Female, president of the business association
3. Male, chair of the board
4. Male, mayor
5. Male, former association president
Notes/analysis: See below notes.
Website: Seattle P-I
On the Seattle P-I, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 3:15 p.m. (MST) Tuesday, Feb. 8, was titled “Man accused in threats against Seattle Democrat Jim McDermott pleads not guilty.” Its subject was the plea of a California man who made threatening phone calls to a Congressman’s office.
Here is its gender breakdown:
–Author: Male
–Human sources (listed in order mentioned):
1. Male, suspect charged
2. Male, special agent
3. Female, U.S. attorney
Notes/analysis: The headlines on both articles this week included mentions of at least two male subjects, one by name in each. These men were then the focal points of the articles. Prior studies, such as the 2010 Global Media Monitoring Project, have shown that less than 15 percent of news items focus on women or female subjects.
The Gender Report 