Gender Checks

Gender Check 2/22/12 – 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: Boston Globe (Boston.com)

On Boston.com, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 4:20 p.m. (EST) Wednesday, Feb. 22, was titled “President Obama Lays Out Corporate Tax Plan.”

Here is its breakdown:

Subject: Economy: Economic policies, strategies, modules etc (Global Media Monitoring Project No. 9)

Word count: 325

Author: Female

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, Treasury Secretary

Website: Open Media Boston

On Open Media Boston, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 4:20 p.m. (EST) Wednesday, Feb. 22, was titled “Protestors Demand Taxes on Wealthy to Fund Social Spending at Twin Protests Outside Offices of Sens. Brown, Kerry.”

Here is its breakdown:

Subject: Politics and Government – Other domestic politics (Global Media Monitoring Project No. 4)

Word count: 369

Author: Male

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male – executive director of Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants

Notes/analysis: The photo of the even is of one male protestor in the foreground and a woman in the background.

Gender check: 2/22/12 – West

Jasmine R. LinabaryLeave 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: Los Angeles Times

On LATimes.com, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 6:25 a.m. (PST) Wednesday, Feb. 22, was titled “Obama wants to cut corporate tax rate to 28% as part of overhaul.”

Here is its breakdown:

Subject: Politics and Government: Domestic politics, government (Global Media Monitoring Project No. 4)

Word count: 422

Author: Male

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, U.S. president

Notes/analysis: The article includes a photo of the president by a male photographer.


Website: California Watch

On California Watch, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 6:25 a.m. (PST) Wednesday, Feb. 22, was titled “Mentally ill immigrants trapped in US detention without attorneys.”

Here is its breakdown:

Subject: Social and Legal: Legal system, judiciary, legislation apart from family (Global Media Monitoring Project No. 35)

Word count: 2717

Author: Female

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, immigration judge
  2. Male, detained immigrant with a traumatic brain injury
  3. Female, attorney
  4. Female, judge
  5. Male, principal assistant director of office of immigration litigation
  6. Female, mother of a legal permanent resident diagnosed with schizophrenia
  7. Female, spokeswoman
  8. Male, attorney
  9. Male, attorney
  10. Female, judge

Notes/analysis: A photograph with the story features a mother hugging her son after he was released as his father watches. It was taken by a male photographer.

Gender Check 2/20/12 – 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: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

On The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 5 p.m. EST on Monday, Feb. 20, was titled “Atlanta Firefighters Union Wants Outside Review of Cheating Allegations.”

Here is its breakdown:

Subject:  Politics and Government: Domestic politics, government (Global Media Monitoring Project 4)

Word count: 367

Author: Male

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male – union president
  2. Male – city attorney

Website: Patch Buckhead

On Patch Buckhead, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 5 p.m. EST on Monday, Feb. 20, was titled “Man Commits Suicide at Buckhead Apartment Complex.”

Here is its breakdown:

Subject: Crime and Violence – other (Global Media Monitoring Project No. 44)

Word count: 165

Author: Male

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Female – police department spokeswoman

Gender check: 2/16/12 – Midwest

Jasmine R. LinabaryLeave 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: Chicago Tribune

On the Chicago Tribune, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 10 a.m. (PST) Thursday, Feb. 16, was titled “Police resume search for missing North Barrington woman.”

Here is its breakdown:

Subject: Crime and Violence: Other (Global Media Monitoring Project No. 44)

Word count: 227

Author: Male (2)

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, husband of missing woman

Notes/analysis: The article also references a statement from sheriff’s “officials.”


Website: Chicago News Cooperative

On Chicago News Cooperative, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 10 a.m. (PST) Thursday, Feb. 16, was titled “Proposal Would Limit Protests in Council Chambers.”

Here is its breakdown:

Subject: Politics and Government: Domestic politics, government (Global Media Monitoring Project No. 4)

Word count: 659

Author: Male (2)

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, alderman
  2. Male, alderman
  3. Male, director of communications and public policy for the state ACLU
  4. Male, alderman

Notes/analysis: The article includes a photo showing both males and females in attendance at a council meeting and a male protestor getting escorted out. The photo was by a male photographer.

Gender check: 2/15/12 – Northeast

Jasmine R. LinabaryLeave 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: Boston Globe (Boston.com)

On Boston.com, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 8:20 p.m. (PST) Wednesday, Feb. 15, was titled “MBTA Advisory Board proposes 25 percent fare hike, alternatives to steep service cuts.”

Here is its breakdown:

Subject: Economy: Transport (Global Media Monitoring Project No. 17)

Word count: 804

Author: Male

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, executive director of advisory board
  2. Male, general manager
  3. Male, president of taxpayers foundation
  4. Male, spokesman
  5. Male, state representative


Website: Open Media Boston

On Open Media Boston, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 8:20 p.m. (PST) Wednesday, Feb. 15, was titled “OMB Audio: Conversation with Occupy the “T” Activists.”

Here is its breakdown:

Subject: Economy: Transport (Global Media Monitoring Project No. 17)

Word count: 264

Author: Male

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

None (in written portion)

Notes/analysis: The audio clips included with the written part of the post are a conversation by two male reporters with one female and two male organizers.