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8 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 6h ago

Still Watching

5.9 earthquake shakes eastern Japan; Here’s what we know

Philadelphia Inquirer and The Star-Ledger (NJ.com) describe the same event in different terms.

1 Left7 Center0 Right
Still watching. Optics is waiting for a cleaner match before calling the split.

STILL WATCHING

As of August 23, 2026 at 1:27 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened Last month, a magnitude 7.1 quake struck the Kumamoto area.
The headline split The left frames it as "A moderate earthquake shakes northeast Japan, injuring more than 20 people in the Tokyo r...". The center frames it as "5.9 earthquake shakes eastern Japan; Here’s what we know".
Match confidence Medium confidence. 8 sources across 2 bias buckets. Useful framing signal — check the source list before sharing.
Same-event confidenceMedium

8 sources across 2 bias buckets agree on the event.

Framing confidenceModerate

63/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftA moderate earthquake shakes northeast Japan, injuring more than 20 people in the Tokyo region

Philadelphia Inquirer · Center-left · News report

Center5.9 earthquake shakes eastern Japan; Here’s what we know

The Plain Dealer (Cleveland.com) · Center · News report

Right / center-rightNo matching source in this bucket yet.

Optics keeps watching for pickup.

SEE THE HEADLINES

Center-leftHigh
Philadelphia InquirerNews report · Aug 23, 1:27 AM

A moderate earthquake shakes northeast Japan, injuring more than 20 people in the Tokyo region

A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 has rattled eastern Japan, including the Tokyo area, but no tsunami warning was issued

Open source
CenterHigh
India TodayNews report · Aug 23, 1:24 AM

23 injured as 5.9-magnitude quake rattles eastern Japan, tremors felt in Tokyo

injured as magnitude quake rattles eastern Japan tremors felt in Tokyo

Open source
CenterMostly Factual
Manila BulletinNews report · Aug 23, 12:21 AM

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake shakes northeast Japan injuring at least 5

TOKYO (AP) — A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 rattled eastern Japan, including the Tokyo area, early Sunday, injuring at least five people, officials said. There wa...

Open source
CenterHigh
The Star-Ledger (NJ.com)News report · Aug 22, 8:36 PM

5.9 earthquake shakes eastern Japan; Here’s what we know

Last month, a magnitude 7.1 quake struck the Kumamoto area.

Open source
CenterHigh
The Birmingham News (AL.com)News report · Aug 22, 8:36 PM

5.9 earthquake shakes eastern Japan; Here’s what we know

Last month, a magnitude 7.1 quake struck the Kumamoto area.

Open source
Show all 8 sources
CenterMostly Factual
The Post-Standard (Syracuse)News report · Aug 22, 8:36 PM

5.9 earthquake shakes eastern Japan; Here’s what we know

Last month, a magnitude 7.1 quake struck the Kumamoto area.

Open source
Details63/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 8 sources
63/99 Wording GapMedium confidence8 sources · 2 bias bucketsLive match · 8 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Aug 22, 8:36 PM: The Plain Dealer (Cleveland.com) joined the source map.

Aug 22, 8:36 PM: The Star-Ledger (NJ.com) joined the source map.

Aug 22, 8:36 PM: The Birmingham News (AL.com) joined the source map.

Aug 22, 8:36 PM: The Post-Standard (Syracuse) joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 63/99 and story health is live match · 8 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news format.