CenterHigh
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland.com)News report · Aug 3, 1:02 PM
5 dead, many still missing after Indonesian ferry fire
More than 230 rescued but officials don't know how many were aboard the ferry.
← Today's headlines
9 sources checked · Left, Center, and Right included · 3m ago
Different Spin
5 dead, many still missing after Indonesian ferry fire
ABC News - International and Al.com (Alabama News) describe the same event in different terms.
2 Left6 Center1 Right
DIFFERENT SPIN
HOW EACH SIDE WORDED IT
Left-leaningCenter-leftNumber of people missing unknown after ferry fire that killed 5, rescuers say
ABC News - InternationalMostly Factual
Right-leaningCenter-right5 dead, many still missing after Indonesian ferry fire
Al.com (Alabama News)Mostly Factual
Center baseline · 
South China Morning PostMostly FactualUnknown number of people missing after Indonesian ferry fire kills 5
As of August 3, 2026 at 1:38 PM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.
What happened More than 230 rescued but officials don't know how many were aboard the ferry.
The headline split The left frames it as "Number of people missing unknown after ferry fire that killed 5, rescuers say". The right frames it as "5 dead, many still missing after Indonesian ferry fire".
Match confidence High confidence. 9 sources checked, Left/Center/Right all represented. Best read as a clear framing signal — not a fact-check.
Same-event confidenceHigh
9 sources across Left, Center, and Right all describe the same event.
Framing confidenceModerate
65/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.
WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED
Left / center-leftNumber of people missing unknown after ferry fire that killed 5, rescuers say
ABC News - International · Center-left · News report
Center5 dead, many still missing after Indonesian ferry fire
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland.com) · Center · News report
Right / center-right5 dead, many still missing after Indonesian ferry fire
Al.com (Alabama News) · Center-right · News report
SEE THE HEADLINES
Open source
CenterMostly Factual
South China Morning PostNews report · Aug 3, 1:38 PM
Unknown number of people missing after Indonesian ferry fire kills 5
Indonesian rescuers searched for possible missing passengers on Monday after rescuing 231 people from a ferry that caught fire the previous day off the main island of Java, leaving at least...
CenterHigh
The Star-Ledger (NJ.com)News report · Aug 3, 1:02 PM
5 dead, many still missing after Indonesian ferry fire
More than 230 rescued but officials don't know how many were aboard the ferry.
CenterMostly Factual
OregonianNews report · Aug 3, 1:02 PM
5 dead, many still missing after Indonesian ferry fire
More than 230 rescued but officials don't know how many were aboard the ferry.
Center-rightMostly Factual
Al.com (Alabama News)News report · Aug 3, 1:02 PM
5 dead, many still missing after Indonesian ferry fire
More than 230 rescued but officials don't know how many were aboard the ferry.
CenterMostly Factual
The Post-Standard (Syracuse)News report · Aug 3, 1:02 PM
5 dead, many still missing after Indonesian ferry fire
More than 230 rescued but officials don't know how many were aboard the ferry.
Show all 9 sources
CenterHigh
The Grand Rapids Press (MLive)News report · Aug 3, 1:02 PM
5 dead, many still missing after Indonesian ferry fire
More than 230 rescued but officials don't know how many were aboard the ferry.
Center-leftMostly Factual
ABC News - InternationalNews report · Aug 3, 12:42 PM
Number of people missing unknown after ferry fire that killed 5, rescuers say
Indonesian rescuers are searching for possible missing passengers after a ferry fire off Java on Sunday killed at least five people
Center-leftMostly Factual
Stuff (New Zealand)News report · Aug 3, 12:09 PM
Unknown number of people are missing after an Indonesian ferry fire killed 5
The vessel was also loaded with 180 vehicles, mostly trucks.
Details65/99 Wording Gap · High confidence · 9 sources
65/99 Wording GapHigh confidence9 sources · 3 bias bucketsStable · 9 sources · all three buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report
SOURCE MAP CHANGES
Aug 3, 12:09 PM: Stuff (New Zealand) joined the source map.
Aug 3, 12:42 PM: ABC News - International joined the source map.
Aug 3, 1:02 PM: The Plain Dealer (Cleveland.com) joined the source map.
Aug 3, 1:02 PM: The Star-Ledger (NJ.com) joined the source map.
Now: Wording Gap is 65/99 and story health is stable · 9 sources · all three buckets · comparable news format.