Copy that! Tony’s example helps Mercury fall, Sport …

There has been much railing against the inclusion of only one woman in Tony Abbott’s Coalition Cabinet. And it’s worth noting that the woman in question, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, often will be absent overseas.

Rather closer to home, there is the (almost) total absence of women in the Hobart Mercury’s sports pages. An analysis of the newspaper’s sports coverage over one week is revealing:

Monday 16th September: twelve pages of sport, 19 photos, only 1 of women (Diamonds netball game against the Kiwis in the Constellation Cup).

Tuesday 17th September: seven pages of sport, 17 photos, none of women.

Wednesday 18th: seven pages of sport, 12 photos, none of women.

Thursday 19th September: eleven pages of sport, 17 photos, 1 of women (Diamonds netball against the Kiwis).

Friday 20th September: nine pages of sport, 13 photos, none of women.

Saturday 21st September: ten pages of sport, 17 photos, none of women.

Over six days, the Mercury published 95 photos of sportspeople. Of these photos, only two were of women. Adding weight to this imbalance, many photos were of group shots, so dozens of men were portrayed.

It would seem that the Mercury’s editor must think that it’s game, set and match against women in sport. (Unless, of course, some golden girl pops up now and then).

• Can’t be helping circulation … Dead-Tree Media continues to topple …