The Gender Report

*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 2:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, June 29 was titled “France Admits to Arming Libyan Rebels.” Its subject was the recent announcement of the NATO’s country involvement with the rebel forces in the ongoing conflict.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Authors: Male and Female (shared by-line)

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – French military spokesman
2. Male – Colonel

Notes/analysis: Much of this story’s information came from previous reporting from French news outlet Le Figaro.

Website: ProPublica

On ProPublica, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 2:30 p.m. EST

on Wednesday, June 29 was titled “The Hardest Cases: When Children Die, Justice Can Be Elusive.” Its subject was the criminal justice process for murder cases involving children. The story was a collaboration with NPR and PBS’ Frontline.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Authors: Male and Female (shared by-line)

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Female – medical examiner
2. Male – pathologist
3. Male – convict
4. Unknown- 9-1-1 operator
5. Female – forensic pathologist (as quoted from a published report)
6. Male – medical examiner
7. Male – judge
8. Male – friend of convict
9. Female – office manager (as quoted from court documents)
10. Male – pathologist
11. Male – doctor (as quoted from court documents)
12. Female – nurse (as quoted from court documents)
13. Female – convict’s wife (as quoted from court documents)
14. Female – victim’s mother (as quoted from court documents)
15. Male – assistant district attorney (as quoted from court documents)
16. Female – lawyer
17. Male – professor (as quoted from court documents)
18. Male – pathologist (as quoted from court documents)
19. Male – doctor
20. Male – doctor
21. Female – convict
22. Female – therapist (as quoted from court documents)
23. Male – judge (as quoted from court documents)
24. Male – district attorney
25. Female – convict

Notes/analysis: This story used mostly legal documents, filings and past reporting for its information. Many of the sources quotes in this manner explicitly declined interviews for the story.