Newspapers play a very important role in an information society insofar as they not only provide information to the reader

about events or topics to which he/she has no direct access but also subtly influence his thinking by providing or withholding information or by altering the context or perspective or the way the news item is reported. Therefore, a content analysis of the newspaper is important in revealing hidden bias, whether intended or otherwise, in the selection of news, their sourcing and the prominence given to that news item in the newspaper. This study pertains to issues of the Seattle times during a one month time period beginning Jan 2011. This part of the report is confined to the study of gender influences on the sourcing of information and its reportage.

Source document

70.2% of all sources are male. 23.3% of all sources are female and the rest 3.5% are indeterminate. In issues pertaining to Government and politics, 67.7% of all sources are male, 29.9% are female and the rest 2.4% are indeterminate. In issues of health care, 65.6% of all sources are male and the rest 34.4% are female. In issues of crime and violence, 61.3% of all sources are male, 37.5% are female and the rest 1.3% are indeterminate. In issues of Science and technology, an overwhelming 80% of all sources are male, 11.4% are female and the rest 8.6% are indeterminate. In business news 68.9% of all sources are male, 26.2% are female and the rest 4.9% are indeterminate. In issues of home life, 55% of all sources are male and 45% are female. In sport news, an overwhelming 80% of all sources are male, only 16.4% are female and the rest 3.5% are indeterminate.

Our content analysis reveals that male sources outnumber the female sources in a ratio of 3:1. This lopsided sourcing is very pronounced in areas of sports (approx. 5:1) and Science/technology (approx.8:1). Even in news sourcing pertaining to home life, where the woman traditionally plays the homemaker and would be expected to be the lead source, the male source: female source ratio is 55:45, virtually a 1:1 ratio! Approximately 50% of American business is controlled by women. However the gender sourcing is skewed in favor of male sources by a ratio of 2.5:1. However in issues of crime and violence, the ratio is a healthier 1.5: 1(approx.) and in health care 1.9:1(approx).

Male female source by topic (knowledgeable, comment, indeterminate)

In issues of Government and politics, the proportion of knowledgeable male sources was 54.7% in comparison to 60.5% for female sources. In issues of health care, the proportion of knowledgeable male sources was 66.7% in comparison to 54.5% for female sources. In issues of Crime/violence, the proportion of knowledgeable male sources was 55.1% in comparison to 56.7% for female sources. In issues of Science and technology, the proportion of knowledgeable male sources was 78.6% in comparison to 75% for female sources. In business news, the proportion of knowledgeable male sources was 71.4% in comparison to 68.8% for female sources. In issues of home life, the proportion of knowledgeable male sources was 100% as compared to 66.7% for female sources. In sports, the proportion of knowledgeable male sources was 51.5% as compared to 48.9% for female sources.

Though the male source outnumbered the female sources in issues of Government and politics by 2.25:1, the proportion of knowledgeable female sources is around 60%, higher than the proportion of knowledgeable male sources, which is 54.7%. This means that though fewer female sources were tapped, a higher proportion of them were experts as compared to the male sources where approximately 43% were comment sources only. This indicates that experts or not, male sources were more often likely to be sourced for information. In contrast, when the female sources are tapped, it is more likely to be because they are expert, knowledgeable sources. In issues of health care though, 66.7% of the male sources were knowledgeable vs.54.5% of female sources. In sports, the male and female knowledgeable sources constitute roughly half the total number sourced. In home life category, 100% of all male sources were knowledgeable and experts whereas only 66.7% of female sources were knowledgeable and experts. I wonder whether that indicates a change of pattern in domestic life, wherein males partners would be participating much more in home life their female partners. In the areas of science/technology, business and crime/violence, the proportion of knowledgeable sources, male: female differ by 1-3 % points and may probably be regarded as equivalent.

Page placement on sports page

Features involving a male subject are more likely to be in the top half of the page 7 out of 10 times in contrast to a feature involving a female subject which is likely to feature at the top only 6 out of 10 times. This would perhaps be an improvement of the representation pattern over the past years, but could still be an indicator of gender representation considering the fact that females constitute a little over half the population.

Conclusions Male sources outnumber female sources by about 2:1 Proportion of knowledgeable female sources in areas of Politics and Government higher than that of males. Proportion of knowledgeable sources higher in the male sources in the areas of health care and home life. Though the difference in percentage-wise representation of males and females in the top half of the sports pages is not great, it nevertheless is there.

Though the American society is moving towards being an egalitarian society, it is probably not yet there. Reportage in newspapers could be a reflection of the importance given to gender issues in day to day life. It does seem evident that female sources are proportionately less sourced and reported than their male counterparts. They are more likely to be relegated to the bottom half of the news page. Though they constitute over half the population and own half the business, their representation in this category is only 26.2%. Whether they are not vocal enough or whether they are ignored can only be guessed at.