When it comes to how newspapers cover political races, sex makes a difference.

This was a common finding in two studies by MSU researchers who analyzed articles on the U.S. Senate race in 2004 from the largest daily newspapers in nine states. The study was conducted by MSU School of Journalism professors Fred Fico and Eric Freedman, and Brad Love, a mass media doctorate student.

In stories where either only male sources or only female sources were used, the researchers found that:

-Male experts were quoted 14 times more frequently than female experts.

-When the sources for the story were not political experts, it was more likely that a story would have only a male source.

-Even in articles with both experts and non-experts, it was nine times more likely that only men were interviewed.

"There is a need for reporters to look for a wider range of experts, both male and female," Freedman said. "Reporters must always strive to include broader opinion and more original thought in their coverage."

Past studies have shown that heavy reliance on male experts can make women feel disconnected from the news, Freedman said.

Chris De Witt, campaign spokesperson for Gov. Jennifer Granholm, says the imbalance favoring male sources in political stories makes it difficult for women to run for office.

"It's an unfortunate situation that we have these numbers," De Witt said. "Just as women have had to fight very hard to break into the all-male political arena, there is still a long way to go when it comes to gender equality in political commentators as sources.

"We in the campaign will just have to deal with the realities we face in media. It is up to news organizations to equalize and add more balance to the coverage."

In another study, the researchers studied whether or not the reporter's sex affected the objectivity of the coverage.

"With the growing proportion of women in the profession, it raises other questions whether female reporters report differently from male reporters," Freedman said.

The study showed female reporters gave more space and attention to Democrats, while male reporters did the same for Republicans.

"Hypothetically, gender should not make a difference in the scheme of things," Fico said in an interview aired over The Spartan Podcast, a Web site created by MSU College of Communication Arts and Sciences graduates. "Reporter judgment should be based on news value — whether something is important, an important person is involved, if a lot of people are affected."

From Labor Day to Election Day this year, Freedman will continue studying fairness, balance and gender issues in the coverage of the senatorial and gubernatorial races by large newspapers in several states. He intends to probe deeper into how the sex of a reporter influences the coverage of political controversy and conflict.