Gender Checks

Gender check: 6/23/11 – 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 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: 6/21/11 – 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: 6/14/11 – 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.