Gender Checks

Gender check: 9/6/11 – 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: Seattle Times

"Growing enrollments bring rebirth for 2 Seattle schools" - Seattle Times, 9/6/2011

On the Seattle Times, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 12:35 p.m. (PDT) Tuesday, Sept. 6, was titled “Growing enrollments bring rebirth for 2 Seattle schools.” Its subject was two schools reopening after district enrollment increases.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, school board member
  2. Female, principal
  3. Female, principal
  4. Female, parent
  5. Female, school librarian

Notes/analysis: The article includes two photos – one of a female and one of a male. Both were taken by female photographer.

Website: Seattle P-I

On the Seattle P-I, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 12:35 p.m. (PDT) Tuesday, Sept. 6, was titled “Police: ‘Possessed’ Auburn woman ritualistically attacked man, children.” Its subject was a woman charged with felony assault for allegedly torturing a housemate and his daughter for over a year.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, victim (via court documents)
  2. Female, deputy prosecutor
  3. Female, detective
  4. Female, victim (via court documents)

Gender Check 9/5/11 – South

Joy BaconLeave a comment

Website: The Miami Herald

On the Miami Herald, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 1 p.m. (EST) on Monday, Sept. 5 was titled “Experts: Hobbies Key To Combating Job Stress.” Its subject was a compilation of guest writers’ features for hobbies to try outside of the 9 to 5 workday.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male – business consultant
  2. Female – author and business consultant
  3. Feature sources: Female gardener, Male technology guru, Male poker player, Female triathlete, Male musician, Male outdoors-man, Male runner, Male sailor. (6 male, 2 female)

Notes/Analysis: The feature story photographed on the lead page was of the male technology guru.

Website: Patch (Seminole Heights)

On Patch of Seminole Heights, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 1 p.m. (EST) on Monday, September 5 was titled “Publix Begins Remodel.” Its subject was an update on the grocery chain’s changes to a local store.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources (listed in order mentioned)

None

Notes/Analysis: The story was a guest post from the store manager.

Gender check: 9/1/11 – 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: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (stltoday.com)

On Stltoday.com, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 8:45 a.m. (PDT) Thursday, Sept. 1, was titled “East St. Louis mother killed two children, fled, say police.” Its subject was a woman arrested after she allegedly shot her two youngest children and hit three pedestrians with her car.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, police captain
  2. Female, cousin of the suspect
  3. Male, lt. with state police
  4. Female, of TV station


Website: St. Louis Beacon

St. Louis Beacon, 9//1/11

On the St. Louis Beacon, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 8:45 a.m. (PDT) Thursday, Sept. 1, was titled “McCaskill brands wartime waste ‘disgusting’ at time of budget cuts.” Its subject was a report on wartime contracting.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Female, U.S. senator (D)
  2. Male, co-chair of commission that created the report
  3. Male, co-chair of commission

Notes/analysis: The article contains one mug shot, of a female, as well as an image from Afghanistan featuring a group of males.

Gender Check 8/31/11 – 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 1 p.m. EST on Wednesday, August 31 was titled “U.S. Moves to Block AT&T Merger With T-Mobile.” Its subject was the Justice Department’s decision to block the communications companies from joining forces.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Authors:  Male (2)

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male – deputy attorney general
  2. Female – Sprint vice president for government affairs

Notes/Analysis: this story was posted under the New York Times’ branch site, Dealbook.

Website: ProPublica

On ProPublica, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 1 p.m. EST on Wednesday, August 31 was titled “Nevada Wallops Bank of America With Sweeping Suit; Nationwide Foreclosure Settlement in Peril.” Its subject was a continuing legal battle for the bank over its mortgage and lending practices.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned)

  1. Female – Bank of America spokeswoman

Notes/analysis: This story used former reporting and direct quotes from the suit as the basis for its information.

Gender check: 8/30/11 – 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: Seattle Times

On the Seattle Times, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 11:45 a.m. (PDT) Tuesday, Aug. 30, was titled “Jury convicts man in 2009 slaying, deadlocks on another.” Its subject was jurors verdicts on two men allegedly involved in the slaying of a man in 2009.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

None

Notes/analysis: The article relies completely on court documents. It also cites prosecutors by saying “prosecutors said” though no specific person is named.


Website: Seattle P-I

Seattle P-I, 8/30/2011
Seattle P-I, 8/30/2011

On the Seattle P-I, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 11:45 a.m. (PDT) Tuesday, Aug. 30, was titled “High court decision on public defense prompts alarm.” Its subject was a decision by the state Supreme Court that public defenders and others working at firms formed by King County to offer legal services to defendants are considered “county ’employees,’ as defined by the state retirement system.”

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, attorney for the county and former justice
  2. Male, attorney for the public defenders
  3. Male, justice (in majority opinion)
  4. Male, justice (in dissenting opinion)

Notes/analysis: The Washington State Supreme Court is comprised of nine members, four women and five men.