South

These are Gender Checks of two news sites from the South — the Miami Herald and Patch (Seminole Heights).

Gender Check: 2/5/11 – South

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*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 3 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, Feb. 5 was titled “Florida: Did bank rob us?” Its subject was a pending lawsuit against a New York-based bank for allegedly defrauding the state’s pension fund.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Female – state attorney general (as quoted from a released statement)

2. unknown- spokesperson

3. male – lawyer (declined comment but still mentioned by name and title)

4. unknown- spokesperson

5. male – former executive director

6. male – governor of California

7. male – businessman

8. male – lawyer

Notes/analysis: This story was taken from the St. Petersburg Times, for which the reporter is a full-time writer. A large portion of the article’s information or statements came from officially released statements or other public statements. Few of the parties involved went on record for separate interviews.


Website: Patch (Seminole Heights)

On Patch of Seminole Heights, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 3:15 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, Feb. 5 was titled “Point Guards Excel at Chamberlain and Tampa Catholic.” Its subject was a weekly feature on a male and female athlete from the area.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Female – coach of female athlete featured

2. Male – coach of male athlete featured

Notes/analysis: In a rare change of pace for a sports feature, the female athlete is highlighted first in this post. Of the three photos accompanying the story, one is of the female basketball player, but the male photo is the home image.

Gender Check: 1/28/11 – South

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*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 2 p.m. EST on Jan. 28, was titled “State issues temporary ban on fake cocaine.” Its subject was a recent state ban on bath salts and other products that produce a similar result to cocaine and LSD when snorted.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Female

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Female – Florida attorney general

2. Male – county sherif

3. Male – president of Florida senate

4. Male – Florida law enforcement commissioner

Notes/analysis:


Website: Patch (Seminole Heights)

On Patch, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 2 p.m. EST on Jan. 28 was titled “’We could be in the same place’; locals pitch in for countywide homeless count.” Its subject was a recent survey of the homeless population in Hillsborough County.

Here is its gender breakdown:

–Author: Male

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Female – volunteer with local non-profit agency

2. Male – project manager with local non-profit agency

3. Male – volunteer

4. Male – CEO of the Homeless Coalition

Notes/analysis: Although not directly related to the breakdown of the story, one of the sources had an interesting statement about the issue of homelessness. He said  there is no discrimination when it comes to those who have nowhere to go. “Homelessness affects everyone – men, women, white, Hispanic, whatever.”

Gender check: 1/21/11 – South

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 Miami Herald

On the Miami Herald, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of 3:30 p.m. EST on Jan. 21  was titled “Cop-killer’s tearful mom: I didn’t know son would open fire on police.” Its subject was an ongoing news story in Miami covering the death of two police officers while serving the shooter a warrant for a previous murder.

Here is its gender breakdown:

-Author: males (dual byline)

–Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1.Female – mother of the shooter


Website: Patch (Seminole Heights)

On Patch, one of the lead articles featured on the home page as of3:45 p.m. EST, was titled “Tampa council turns down liquor store on Hillsborough Avenue.” Its subject was a recent decision to deny a permit to a liquor store located near a church and city park.

Here is its gender breakdown:

-Author: male

-Human sources  (listed in order mentioned):

1. Male – resident near the proposed store

2. Male – lawyer representing company making request

3. Male – president of neighborhood association

4. Female – resident near the proposed store

Notes/analysis: The Tampa City Council consists of 3 female and 4 male council members.