Gender Checks

Gender check: 6/21/11 – 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 12:15 p.m. (PST) Tuesday, June 21, was titled “Seattle asks court to allow release of names of disciplined cops.” Its subject was a petition by the Seattle City Attorney’s Office.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, attorney

Notes/analysis: The story mostly references documents or refers to “the department.”


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 21, was titled “Charge: Lakewood man sold incarcerated sex predators child porn.” Its subject was a man charged with smuggling child pornography into a state facility for sex offenders.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Unknown, inspector (Unnamed)

2. Male, assistant U.S. attorney

Gender check: 6/16/11 – 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 11:25 a.m. (PST) Thursday, June 16, was titled “Missouri River to be high but manageable all summer, barring torrents of rain.” Its subject was a discussion on the flood potential of the Missouri River.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, chief of Weather Service office

2. Male, commander of Army Corps of Engineers district

Notes/analysis: The photo accompanying the story features two males. It was taken by a male photographer.


Website: St. Louis Beacon

On the St. Louis Beacon, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 11:25 a.m. (PST) Thursday, June 16, was titled “Blunt visits Guantanamo, calls for two more terror suspects to be tried there.” Its subject was a U.S. senator speaks about his tour of Guantanamo.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, U.S. senator

2. Male, a spokesman (unnamed)

3. Unknown, attorney

Notes/analysis: The story was based mainly on a call with reporters with the U.S. senator sharing his thoughts after a tour of the facility, making him the main and dominate source.

Gender Check 6/15/11 – 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 8:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, June 15 was titled “War Powers Act Does Not Apply to Libya, Obama Argues.” Its subject was the dispute over the United States military action in Libya.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – State Department legal adviser

2. Male – Speaker of the House (from written documents)

3. Male – law professor

Website: ProPublica

On ProPublica, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 8:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, June 15 was titled “Merrill Lynch Investigated For CDO Deal Involving Magnetar.” Its subject was a question about the bank giving undue influence to a major hedge fund company.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. unknown – legal counsel

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

Gender check: 6/14/11 – 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. (PST) Tuesday, June 14, was titled “Seattle U. receives invitation to join WAC, according to sources.” Its subject was reports that Seattle University has been invited to join the Western Athletic Conference.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, commissioner

2. Male, athletic director

Notes/analysis: The story focuses in on men’s basketball.


Website: Seattle P-I

On the Seattle P-I, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 11:45 a.m. (PST) Tuesday, June 14, was titled “Rescue launched for Mount Rainier climber.” Its subject was two climbing parties attempting to reach a man who has been stranded on Mount Rainier.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Female, park spokeswoman (Unnamed)

Notes/analysis: The story does not use named sources, instead referencing “park officials.”

Gender check: 6/9/11 – 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 12:30 p.m. (PST) Thursday, June 9, was titled “Medic critically injured in flurry of gunfire in University City.” Its subject was a fire department medic shot during gunfire outside a laundromat.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, fire captain

2. Male, city police captain

3. Male, fire captain

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 9, was titled “Electronic medical records prove to be critical in Joplin disaster.” Its subject was access to medical records in the aftermath of the Joplin tornado.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, patient

2. Male, chief of technology services company

Notes/analysis: The photo with the story showing hospital services features a number of people, mostly females, though none were quoted in the story.