To the editor:
While I agree with the statement in your Feb. 9 inaugural issue that “covering local news has never been more important”and applaud the start of this local newspaper, it is also very important that the news equally cover girls/women and boys/men in all areas, including sports.
On Page 16 in the sports section of your Fairfax edition, the main headline should have read “Madison Girls, Marshall Boys First in Districts” rather than “Marshall, Madison Boys First, Second in Districts.” Buried halfway through the article was the news that Madison girls were first in their district.
In addition, given that the main headline for the section referenced “boys,” the default assumption was that the other two articles were also about boys’ sports, when that was not the case. Two photos of boys, and none of girls, were included in the sports section of that edition.
Fifty years ago, I played sports at James Madison High School; at that time, girls’ sports were never covered. Clearly, 50 years later, the news can do better.
Barbara Best, Vienna
