*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: The New York Times
On The New York Times, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 8 p.m. EST on March 2 was titled “Justices Rule For Protestors At Military Funerals. ” Its subject was the Supreme Court’s decision 8-1 in favor of the Westboro Baptist church’s right to free speech under the First Amendment.
Here is its gender breakdown:
–Authors: Male
–Human sources (listed in order mentioned):
1. Male – chief justice of the Supreme Court (as quoted from the majority opinion)
2. Male – justice of the Supreme Court (as quoted from the dissent)
3. Male – justice of the Supreme Court (as quoted from the concurring opinion)
Notes/analysis: None of the quotes used in the story came from interviews, but rather the written rulings in the case. Currently three of the nine justices are women.
Website: ProPublica
On ProPublica, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 8 p.m. EST on March 2 was titled “A Test Where The Banks Had The Questions And The Answers.” Its subject was the upcoming tests for banks by the Federal Reserve and possible problems with the current way banks are evaluated.
Here is its gender breakdown:
–Author: Male
–Human sources (listed in order mentioned):
1. Male – national bank executive
2. Male -national bank executive
3. Male – wealthy citizen
4. Male – financial analyst
5. Male – member of Congressional oversight panel
6. Male – law professor
Notes/analysis: It’s not surprising that a story focusing on financial systems and banking executives is dominated, exclusively, by male sources.
The Gender Report 