Gender Checks

Gender check: 8/18/11 – 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 hereto read more.

Website: St. Louis Post-Dispatch(stltoday.com)

On Stltoday.com, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 6:30 a.m. (PDT) Thursday, Aug. 18, was titled “St. Charles house fire claims fourth victim, an 8-year-old boy.” Its subject was deaths in a house fire that killed all but an 11-year-old son in a family of five.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Female, spokeswoman for hospital
  2. Female, spokeswoman for hospital (different than first)
  3. Male, fire captain


Website: St. Louis Beacon

St. Louis Beacon, 8/18/2011

On the St. Louis Beacon, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 6:30 a.m. (PDT) Thursday, Aug. 18, was titled “Del Taco developer to prepare designs for restoration.” Its subject was efforts to restore a “flying saucer” building.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male (intern)

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, developer and owner of the former Del Taco building
  2. Female, alderman
  3. Male, local business owner

Notes/analysis: Two photos accompany the story. One is a file photo by a male photographer and another is a file photo by a female intern.

Gender Check 8/17/11 – 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 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday, August 17 was titled “A Gift From The Musical Gods.” Its subject was Maria Callas’ anticipated performance with the Metropolitan Opera.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author:  Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Female – opera singer

Notes/Analysis: much of this article referred to previously printed work from the same author and other reviews in the New York Times.

Website: ProPublica

On ProPublica, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday, August 17 was titled “Despite $65 Billion Investment, World’s Most Costly Jet Still Grounded.” Its subject was a military plane used overseas that has caused problems for pilots.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned)

None

Notes/analysis: This story used mostly previous reporting for its human quotes, and referred mostly to factual lists and information.

Gender check: 8/16/11 – 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

Seattle Times, 8/16/11

On the Seattle Times, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 10:25 a.m. (PDT) Tuesday, Aug. 16, was titled “Tunnel dispute tops election; ballots due today.” Its subject was the last day to vote in the primary election.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, mayor

Notes/analysis: The story mostly provides a roundup of issues and races that voters are casting their ballots on through today.


Website: Seattle P-I

On the Seattle P-I, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 10:25 a.m. (PDT) Tuesday, Aug. 16, was titled “Seattle’s ‘green jobs’ program a bust.” Its subject was the progress (or lake thereof) with a federal grant intended to create jobs and weatherize homes in poorer neighborhoods.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, mayor
  2. Male, director of community organizing group
  3. Male, policy director of economic-justice group
  4. Male, U.S. vice president
  5. Male, city’s manager for program
  6. Male, who got certification in insulating walls and sealing air leaks

Gender check: 8/11/11 – 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)

"Congressional pages from St. Louis area lament passing of the program" - Stltoday.com, 8/11/2011

On Stltoday.com, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 10:15 a.m. (PDT) Thursday, Aug. 11, was titled “Congressional pages from St. Louis area lament passing of the program.” Its subject was the end of the U.S. House of Representatives’ page program.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male, house page
  2. Female, widow of former U.S. representative (later noted then she succeeded him)
  3. Male, U.S. representative
  4. Male, first appointed African-American page
  5. Female, former page (college junior)
  6. Female, page (high school junior)
  7. Male, page (high school senior)


Website: St. Louis Beacon

On the St. Louis Beacon, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 10:15 a.m. (PDT) Thursday, Aug. 11, was titled “A year out, political attacks focus on image — not issues.” Its subject was election campaigns and attacks on the images of candidate and incumbents.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Unknown, top local party official
  2. Male, political science professor
  3. Female, U.S. senator
  4. Male, U.S. representative
  5. Male, unnamed spokesman for lieutenant governor
  6. Male, unnamed spokesman for St. Louis business man (potential candidate)

Notes/analysis: The story also included quotes from releases from political groups.

Gender Check 8/10/11 – 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 a.m.. EST on Wednesday, August 10 was titled “U.S. Stocks Resume Their Slide After a One-Day Rally.” Its subject was the continuing uncertainty in the economy after the debt ceiling deal and credit rating decision.

Here is its gender breakdown:

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

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Female – fund manager
  2. Male – french finance minister
  3. Male – Japanese bank governor (from public statements)
  4. Male – German economist

Website: ProPublica

On ProPublica, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 10 a.m. EST on Wednesday, August 10 was titled “Why Looming Budget Battles Might Still Shut Down the Government.” Its subject was

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

  1. Male – Congressional scholar
  2. Female – Congressional scholar

Notes/analysis: This story used two sources to get varied opinions about the future of specific government agencies. At least some of the information came from e-mail correspondence.