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3 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 5h ago

Still Watching

Braydon Hepworth missing from Christchurch: Police send urgent appeal

Stuff (New Zealand) and The New Zealand Herald describe the same event in different terms.

2 Left1 Center0 Right
Still watching. Optics is waiting for a cleaner match before calling the split.

STILL WATCHING

As of September 26, 2026 at 9:04 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened The last confirmed sighting of Braydon Hepworth was at a service station on September 3.
The headline split The left frames it as "Police issue fresh appeal for missing Christchurch man last seen three weeks ago". The center frames it as "Braydon Hepworth missing from Christchurch: Police send urgent appeal".
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

60/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftPolice issue fresh appeal for missing Christchurch man last seen three weeks ago

Stuff (New Zealand) · Center-left · News report

CenterBraydon Hepworth missing from Christchurch: Police send urgent appeal

The New Zealand Herald · Center · News report

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

Optics keeps watching for pickup.

SEE THE HEADLINES

Center-leftMostly Factual
Stuff (New Zealand)News report · Sep 26, 5:05 AM

Police issue fresh appeal for missing Christchurch man last seen three weeks ago

Police and family are concerned for 21-year-old Braydon Hepworth, who has been missing since September 3.

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
Wales OnlineNews report · Sep 26, 9:04 AM

Police make poignant appeal on missing man's birthday

The family of missing Aberdare man Ricky Harris are facing another heartbreaking milestone today on his 34th birthday

Open source
CenterHigh
The New Zealand HeraldNews report · Sep 26, 5:13 AM

Braydon Hepworth missing from Christchurch: Police send urgent appeal

The last confirmed sighting of Braydon Hepworth was at a service station on September 3.

Open source
Details60/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 3 sources
60/99 Wording GapMedium confidence3 sources · 2 bias bucketsLive match · 3 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Sep 26, 5:05 AM: Stuff (New Zealand) joined the source map.

Sep 26, 5:13 AM: The New Zealand Herald joined the source map.

Sep 26, 9:04 AM: Wales Online joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 60/99 and story health is live match · 3 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news format.