Gender Check 6/29/11 – Northeast

*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

ProPublica, 6/29/2011

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.

Gender check: 6/28/11 – West

*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 12:15 p.m. (PST) Tuesday, June 28, was titled “April home prices rise in Seattle and other U.S. cities, but analysts cautious.” Its subject was that home prices rose from the previous month for the first time in eight months, though analysts caution that it may just be a sign of temporary increases.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Male

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, chairman of index committee

2. Male, managing partner at investment bank

Notes/analysis: Most of the story was numbers based.


Website: Seattle P-I

On the Seattle P-I, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 12:15 p.m. (PST) Tuesday, June 28, was titled “Lesbian can sue UW for job discrimination, court rules.” Its subject was the Court of Appeals overturning a lower court ruling the statute of limitations had run out on a woman’s ability to sue the University of Washington, where she had worked, for what she claims was a hostile work environment.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Female

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Female, subject

2. Male, her boss (according to complaint)

Notes/analysis: The story mainly rehashes the complaint and states the court’s reversal. The woman’s claims are based on her experience with her male boss’ treatment of her after he found out she was a lesbian. Among other things, he told her not to “flaunt” her sexual orientation. Here’s a link to the P-I’s original story on the suit when it was first filed: “UW sued by lesbian who says boss harassed her.”

Gender Check 6/24/11 – South

*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 a.m. (EST) on Friday, June 24 was titled “Libya Debate Creates Unusual Political Alliances in Fla., and on Capitol Hill.” Its subject was the Florida’s House Delegation’s split on a vote over the United States involvement with NATO in Libya.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Male

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – Congressman

2. Female – Congresswoman

3. Male – Senator (from published comments)

4. Male – Congressman

5. Female – Congresswoman

6. Male – Congressman

Notes/Analysis: Florida currently has 25 seats in the House of Representatives, eight of which are held by women.

Website: Patch (Seminole Heights)

On Patch of Seminole Heights, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 9 a.m. (EST) on Friday, June 24 was titled “Tampa Heights Community Garden Wins OK From City.” Its subject was the city council’s vote to approve a garden on land leased from the city.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Female

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – vice president of civic association

2. Female – garden club member

Gender check: 6/23/11 – Midwest

*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 12:30 p.m. (PST) Thursday, June 23, was titled “St. Louis woman charged; police say she lied about carjacking.” Its subject was a woman charged with making a false report after lying about a carjacking.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Female

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Female, accused (via court documents)


Website: St. Louis Beacon

On the St. Louis Beacon, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 12:30 p.m. (PST) Thursday, June 23, was titled “Analysis: Obama’s troop withdrawals from Afghanistan reflect domestic pressures.” Its subject was a look at the decision to draw down troops and focus attentions “at home.”

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author:  Male

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, U.S. senator (Democrat)

2. Male, U.S. senator (Democrat)

3. Male, U.S. senator (Republican) (via op-ed)

4. Male, then-U.S. senator

5. Unknown, “senior administration official” (Unnamed)

6. Male, “senior administration official” (Unnamed)

Notes/analysis: The article also refers to statements from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, as well as other offices and statistics.

Gender Check 6/22/11 – Northeast

*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 a.m. EST on Wednesday, June 22 was titled “Cost of Wars a Rising Issue as Obama Weighs Troop Levels.” Its subject was the Congressional debate about U.S. involvement overseas.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Female

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – U.S. senator

2. Male – national security expert

3. Male – U.S. senator

4. Male – presidential candidate

5. Male – professor

Notes/analysis: Much of this story’s information came from public statements or group statements.

Website: ProPublica

On ProPublica, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 9:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday, June 22 was titled “Magnetar Deal Prompts SEC Settlement With JPMorgan Case.” Its subject was continued coverage of the bank’s missteps in advising a hedge fund manager.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Female

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. unknown -Magnetar employee

Notes/analysis: This story used mostly legal documents, filings and past reporting for its information. Other sources or organizations declined to comment.