Author: Joy Bacon

Gender Check 4/13/11 – Northeast

Joy BaconLeave a comment
*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 10:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday, April 13 was titled “Egyptian Prosecuters Order 15-Day Detention of Hosni Mubarak.” Its subject was the continuing struggle in Egypt for a accountability from its past leadership.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Authors: Male (dual byline)

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – online news editor

Notes/analysis: This story was compiled mostly from press releases, AP reports, and government authorities who went unnamed.

Website: ProPublica

On ProPublica, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 10:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday, April 13 was titled “Critical Shortage of Army Neurologists for U.S. Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Its subject was policy changes in treatment requirements for soldiers suffering from brain injuries. It was co-published with NPR.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Authors: Male (dual byline)

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Unknown – unnamed Army doctor

2. Male – Army general

3. Female – spokeswoman for Army Surgeon General

Notes/Analysis: This story was sparked by the release of a memo, from which much of the article’s information came.

Gender Check 4/6/11 – Northeast

Joy BaconLeave a comment
*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 10 p.m. EST on Wednesday, April 6 was titled “Obama Meeting Leaders From Congress on Stalemate.” Its subject was the pending shut down of the federal government over budget conflicts.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – President of the United States

2. Male – Speaker of the House

3. Male – U.S. senator

4. Male – U.S. senator

Notes/analysis: This story is lead news across several news organizations this week. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi was the first female speaker of the house, and women currently hold 17 Senate seats and 76 seats in the House of Representatives.

Website: ProPublica

On ProPublica, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 10 p.m. EST on Wednesday, April 6 was titled “Charter Schools Outsource Education to Management Firms, With Mixed Results.” Its subject was a lawsuit in progress against a private education firm running various charter schools.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – company board member

2. Male – attorney

3. Male – education professor

4. Male – attorney

5. Male – education consultant

6. Male – education professor

7. Male – charter school board member

8. Male – attorney

Notes/Analysis: While women make up over 60 percent of the teaching force in the United States, they hold only 30 percent of administrator positions and still fewer school board seats, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.


Gender Check 4/1/11 – South

Joy BaconLeave a comment
*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 Miami Herald

On the Miami Herald, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 9:30 a.m. (EST) on Friday, April 1 was titled “WWII Soldier Receives Bronze Medal – 66 Years After Heroic Rescue.” Its subject was an award to a soldier for his efforts in Luxembourg during the war.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – honored veteran

2. Female – wife of veteran

3. Female – daughter of veteran

4. Male – presenter of award

Notes/analysis:

Website: Patch (Seminole Heights)

On Patch of Seminole Heights, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 9:30 a.m. (EST) on Friday, April 1 was titled “Viewfinder: The Swap Shop.” Its subject was a feature on a local clothing market.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Unknown – vendor

Notes/analysis: This is one of the first Patch stories studied for the Gender Report that had a female byline.

Gender Check 3/30/11- Northeast

Joy BaconLeave a comment
*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 9:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 30 was titled “C.I.A Agents in Lybia Aid Airstrikes and Meet Rebels.” Its subject was reports that American spies are on the ground in Lybia collecting information on the rebel forces.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Authors: Male (dual byline)

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – American general

2. Male – White House press secretary

3. Male – U.S. congressman

4. Male – American general

Notes/analysis: A significant amount of information cited in the story came from anonymous government sources or official released statements with no direct human source.

Website: ProPublica

On ProPublica, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 9:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 30 was titled “Pennsylvania Limits Authority of Oil and Gas Inspectors.” Its subject was a new requirement regulating fines for oil drilling companies.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – head of state Department of Environmental Protection

2. Female – DEP spokeswoman


Gender Check 3/25/11 – South

Joy BaconLeave a comment
*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 Miami Herald

On the Miami Herald, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 7 p.m. (EST) on Friday, March 25 was titled “State Prosecutor Drops Charges Against Sansom. ” Its subject was a case against the state’s former speaker of the house for alleged theft and conspiracy surrounding a state budget.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – state attorney

2. Male – former state speaker of the house

Notes/analysis: Most of the story was a history of the case, compiled from court documents and former coverage.

Website: Patch (Seminole Heights)

On Patch of Seminole Heights, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 7 p.m. (EST) on Friday, March 25 was titled “Bullied No More: Young Robbery Victim Speaks Out.” Its subject was a

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – student bullies

2. Male – victim of robbery

3. Female – mother of victim

4. Male – police commander

5. Male – police detective

Notes/analysis: