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3 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 3m ago

Still Watching

Boys arrested for ‘breaking into Perth Zoo, bashing crocodile with pole’

The Age (Australia) and ABC News Australia Top Stories describe the same event in different terms.

1 Left2 Center0 Right
Still watching. Optics is waiting for a cleaner match before calling the split.

STILL WATCHING

As of September 15, 2026 at 6:18 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened The 16 and 17-year-old boys cut the locks to a crocodile enclosure before entering and striking a crocodile with a metal pole.
The headline split The left frames it as "Boys arrested for ‘breaking into Perth Zoo, bashing crocodile with pole’". The center frames it as "Teens allegedly broke into Perth Zoo and hit crocodile with metal pole".
Match confidence Medium confidence. 3 sources across 2 bias buckets. Useful framing signal — check the source list before sharing.
Same-event confidenceMedium

3 sources across 2 bias buckets agree on the event.

Framing confidenceModerate

52/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftBoys arrested for ‘breaking into Perth Zoo, bashing crocodile with pole’

The Age (Australia) · Center-left · News report

CenterBoys arrested for ‘breaking into Perth Zoo, bashing crocodile with pole’

The Sydney Morning Herald · Center · News report

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

Optics keeps watching for pickup.

SEE THE HEADLINES

CenterHigh
The Sydney Morning HeraldNews report · Sep 15, 6:16 AM

Boys arrested for ‘breaking into Perth Zoo, bashing crocodile with pole’

The 16 and 17-year-old boys cut the locks to a crocodile enclosure before entering and striking a crocodile with a metal pole.

Open source
CenterHigh
ABC News Australia Top StoriesNews report · Sep 15, 6:18 AM

Teens allegedly broke into Perth Zoo and hit crocodile with metal pole

Police say the teens, aged 16 and 17, allegedly cut the locks of a crocodile enclosure before striking the reptile on Sunday night.

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
The Age (Australia)News report · Sep 15, 6:16 AM

Boys arrested for ‘breaking into Perth Zoo, bashing crocodile with pole’

The 16 and 17-year-old boys cut the locks to a crocodile enclosure before entering and striking a crocodile with a metal pole.

Open source
Details52/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 3 sources
52/99 Wording GapMedium confidence3 sources · 2 bias bucketsLive match · 3 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Sep 15, 6:16 AM: The Sydney Morning Herald joined the source map.

Sep 15, 6:16 AM: The Age (Australia) joined the source map.

Sep 15, 6:18 AM: ABC News Australia Top Stories joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 52/99 and story health is live match · 3 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news format.