To examine the representation of women in newspaper business sections, a study conducted content analyses of 30 business section front pages in "The Columbus Dispatch" in Ohio (weekly circulation about 260,000 and Sunday circulation 350,000) and "The (Louisville) Courier-Journal" in Kentucky (weekly circulation about 233,000 and Sunday circulation 325,000) from June 23, 1987 to July 22, 1987. Each page was coded for: number of stories and photos; number of stories about women (with a woman or women's issue as the main topic); stories quoting women as expert sources or spokespersons; stories with a female byline; and number of photos picturing at least one woman (not including "mug shots" of columnists that often accompany columns). Stories were also coded for the same characteristics as they applied to males. Analysis revealed that of 180 stories coded in "The Dispatch," women were the main subject of one story and four "Business Briefs," were quoted in 11 stories and one brief, had 10 bylines, and were featured in nine photos. In contrast, men were the main subject of 31 stories and 10 briefs, were quoted in 89 stories and eight briefs, had 35 bylines, and were depicted in 35 photos. Of the 116 stories coded in "The Courier-Journal," women were the subject of six stories and four briefs, were quoted in six stories and one brief, had 35 bylines, and shown in six photos. Men were the subject of 29 stories and 22 briefs, were quoted in 59 stories and 12 briefs, had 42 bylines, and depicted in 25 photos. (A summary of the coded stories is appended.) (MM)