Gender Check 5/25/11- 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 8:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday, May 25 was titled “G.O.P on the Defensive as Voters Resist Medicare Plan.” Its subject was an analysis of the plan to reduce Medicare to reduce government spending.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Female

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – spokesman

2. Male – U.S. senator

3. Male – U.S. senator

Notes/analysis: The majority of this story was compiled from previous statements, votes or positions from Congress as well as published statements from interest groups. Several male and female representatives are named but not directly quoted.

Website: ProPublica

On ProPublica, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 8:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday, May 25 was titled “Witness: Pakistani Intel Officer Ordered Hit on Mumbai Jews.” Its subject was an investigation into an attack on a Jewish center in 2008. The story was written in conjunction with a PBS Frontline investigation, and a version also appeared in the Washington Post.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Male

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – Pakistani terrorist (self-described term)

2. Male – author

3. Male – Pakistani major

Gender check: 5/24/11 – 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 11:20 a.m. (PST) Tuesday, May 24, was titled “1.9% teacher pay cut: Lawmakers strike budget deal.” Its subject was a plan for pay cuts in education announced.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Male

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, committee chairman

Notes/analysis: The article mostly detailed the budget agreement, without much comment at this time from lawmakers and none yet from those affected.


Website: Seattle P-I

On the Seattle P-I, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 11: 20 a.m. (PST) Tuesday, May 24, was titled “Surveyor beat down two would-be thieves, prosecutors claim.” Its subject was two men being charged for attempting to steal a GPS receiver, though the male owner chased them down and “beat them down.”

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Male

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, detective

Gender Check 5/20/11 – 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 10 p.m. (EST) on Friday, May 20 was titled “Judge: No Early Voting Sunday in Miami-Dade Election.” Its subject was a ruling in support of a local election board’s decision around a special election’s timeline.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Female

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

1. Female – judge

2. Male – attorney

3. Male – elections supervisor

4. Male – candidate

Website: Patch (Seminole Heights)

On Patch of Seminole Heights, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 10 p.m. (EST) on Friday, May 20 was titled “5 Things to Know About Saturday’s ‘Judgment Day‘.” Its subject was the upcoming prediction of Judgment Day in the Christian faith..

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Male

Human sources (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – evangelist (as quoted by another media outlet)

Gender check: 5/19/11 – 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 noon (PST) Thursday, May 19, was titled “Man shoots wife, kills teen girl and shoots self in St. Louis domestic dispute.” Its subject was a man shooting his wife, her teen daughter and then himself. The girl died of her wounds while her mother and the man are still in critical condition.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Male and female, dual byline

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, police lt.

2. Female, neighbor

Notes/analysis: The incident is a breaking news situation that is still developing. The story notes that a young boy is also a member of the household but was at school at the time. It’s unclear whether the man was the girl’s father or step-father.


Website: St. Louis Beacon

On the St. Louis Beacon, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of noon (PST) Thursday, May 19, was titled “MSD rates are set to go up, one way or another.” Its subject was upcoming rate increases from the sewer district.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Male

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, executive director

Notes/analysis: The story mostly cites “officials” with the MSD or just the district as the source.

Gender check: 5/17/11 – 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 6 p.m. (MST) Tuesday, May 17, was titled “Enfield reverses decision to fire Ingraham High principal.” Its subject was the Seattle Schools interim superintendent announcing she would give a male principal another year to prove himself rather than terminating him.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Female

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Female, interim superintendent


Website: Seattle P-I

On the Seattle P-I, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 6 p.m. (MST) Tuesday, May 17, was titled “Starbucks sued for firing barista with dwarfism.” Its subject was the federal government suing Starbucks for firing a woman who asked to use a stool or stepladder when preparing drinks.

Here is its gender breakdown:

Author: Female

Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male, trial lawyer

2. Female, company spokeswoman

Notes/analysis: The article only included voices speaking on behalf of others.


*This post was created May 19, but information was gathered at 6 p.m. May 17.*