← Today's headlines

24 sources checked · Left, Center, and Right included · 1h ago

Different Spin

Death toll rises in Indonesia after powerful earthquake

Headlines vary between emphasizing the rising death toll and highlighting the immediate impact with specific, higher casualty figures and magnitude.

10 Left10 Center4 Right
Same story. Different framing. Left, center, and right outlets are covering the same event. Here’s how each side worded it.

DIFFERENT SPIN

HOW EACH SIDE WORDED IT

Left-leaningCenter-leftIndonesia earthquake kills at least 38, topples buildings; tsunami warning liftedThe HinduMostly Factual
Right-leaningMassive 7.7 earthquake kills 38, triggers landslides in IndonesiaDaily Sabah (Turkey)Mixed
Center baseline · The Sydney Morning HeraldHighDeath toll rises in Indonesia after powerful earthquake

As of August 15, 2026 at 11:07 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened At least 38 people have died when a magnitude 7.7 struck off the coast of Indonesia early on Saturday. A tsunami warning has now been lifted.
The headline split The left frames it as "Indonesia earthquake kills at least 38, topples buildings; tsunami warning lifted". The right frames it as "Massive 7.7 earthquake kills 38, triggers landslides in Indonesia".
Match confidence High confidence. 24 sources checked, Left/Center/Right all represented. Best read as a clear framing signal — not a fact-check.
Same-event confidenceHigh

24 sources across Left, Center, and Right all describe the same event.

Framing confidenceModerate

55/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftIndonesia earthquake kills at least 38, topples buildings; tsunami warning lifted

The Hindu · Center-left · News report

CenterDeath toll rises in Indonesia after powerful earthquake

The Sydney Morning Herald · Center · News report

Right / center-rightAt least 38 dead, buildings toppled after magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off Indonesia’s coast

New York Post · Center-right · News report

SEE THE HEADLINES

Center-rightMixed
New York PostNews report · Aug 15, 9:38 AM

At least 38 dead, buildings toppled after magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off Indonesia’s coast

38 deadtoppledmagnitude 7.7

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, killing at least 38 people, collapsing buildings and homes as well as causing panic in a region prone t...

Open source
Center-rightMixed
Daily MailNews report · Aug 15, 11:07 AM

Spain tourist destination hit by 5.2 magnitude earthquake in the dead of night leaving roads cracked and buildings shuddering

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.2, hit the city of Alhendin in southern Spain just after 1am local time, around midnight in the UK.

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
The HinduNews report · Aug 15, 10:47 AM

Indonesia earthquake kills at least 38, topples buildings; tsunami warning lifted

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early on August 15; initial quake was followed by several aftershocks

Open source
CenterHigh
The Sydney Morning HeraldNews report · Aug 15, 9:39 AM

Death toll rises in Indonesia after powerful earthquake

rises

At least 38 people have died when a magnitude 7.7 struck off the coast of Indonesia early on Saturday. A tsunami warning has now been lifted.

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
The Age (Australia)News report · Aug 15, 9:39 AM

Death toll rises in Indonesia after powerful earthquake

At least 38 people have died when a magnitude 7.7 struck off the coast of Indonesia early on Saturday. A tsunami warning has now been lifted.

Open source
CenterMostly Factual
EuronewsNews report · Aug 15, 9:26 AM

Watch: Chaos as powerful earthquake hits Indonesia

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia, damaging buildings and sending people running for safety as the shaking was caught on camera in Maumere.

Open source
Show all 24 sources
CenterHigh
WDSU New Orleans (Hearst)News report · Aug 15, 9:26 AM

Death toll rising after magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off coast of Indonesia

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off coast of Indonesia and tsunami warning issued

Open source
Center-leftHigh
Philadelphia InquirerNews report · Aug 15, 9:21 AM

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off Indonesia's coast, killing at least 38 and toppling buildings

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake has struck off the coast of Indonesia, damaging buildings and homes, killing at least 38 people and causing panic in a region prone to deadly quakes

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
New York Times WorldNews report · Aug 15, 9:17 AM

At Least 38 Dead as 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Indonesia

The temblor was one of the strongest the area had experienced in decades, an official said.

Open source
Center-leftHigh
CBS NewsNews report · Aug 15, 9:09 AM

At least 38 dead after powerful earthquake strikes Indonesia

Indonesian authorities issued, then lifted, a tsunami warning after the powerful earthquake hit Saturday morning.

Open source
RightMixed
Daily Sabah (Turkey)News report · Aug 15, 9:04 AM

Massive 7.7 earthquake kills 38, triggers landslides in Indonesia

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia’s coast early Saturday, killing at least 38 people, destroying homes and buildings, and sparking panic in a region frequent...

Open source
CenterHigh
Radio New ZealandNews report · Aug 15, 8:57 AM

38 dead after 7.7 magnitude earthquake strikes off coast of Indonesia

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake triggered an early tsunami warning for some regions of Indonesia.

Open source
CenterHigh
BBC NewsNews report · Aug 15, 8:52 AM

Powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake kills at least 38 in Indonesia

A search and rescue operation is under way to find survivors in Flores, an island in eastern Indonesia.

Open source
CenterHigh
France 24News report · Aug 15, 8:47 AM

Indonesia earthquake kills at least 38 as rescue operation continues

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Flores region, killing at least 38 people and injuring six, while rescuers search through collapsed buildings for survivors. After...

Open source
Center-leftHigh
NPRNews report · Aug 15, 8:29 AM

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off Indonesia's coast, killing at least 38

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, killing at least 38 people, collapsing buildings as well as causing panic in a region prone to deadly q...

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
ABC News - InternationalNews report · Aug 15, 7:34 AM

Powerful earthquake strikes off Indonesia, killing at least 20 and toppling buildings

killingtoppling

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake has struck off the coast of Indonesia, damaging buildings and homes, killing at least 20 people and causing panic in a region prone to deadly quakes

Open source
CenterHigh
Phys.orgNews report · Aug 15, 7:27 AM

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off coast of Indonesia and tsunami warning issued

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, damaging buildings and homes, and triggering a tsunami warning. Authorities urged people on affected co...

Open source
CenterHigh
KABC / ABC7 Los AngelesNews report · Aug 15, 7:02 AM

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off coast of Indonesia, toppling buildings and killing at least 5

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia, collapsing buildings and killing at least five people.

Open source
Center-leftHigh
Irish TimesNews report · Aug 15, 6:25 AM

At least 38 dead after earthquake in Indonesia

Tsunami warning lifted after three hours

Open source
RightMixed
The Christian PostNews report · Aug 15, 5:42 AM

Deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Indonesia

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake shook eastern Indonesia early Saturday, leaving at least five people dead and touching off dozens of aftershocks, one measuring magnitude 6.1.

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
Stuff (New Zealand)News report · Aug 15, 5:00 AM

Death toll rises to 20 after magnitude 7.7 earthquake hits Indonesia

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake has struck in the Flores region of Indonesia, with its epicentre at a depth of 10km.

Open source
CenterMostly Factual
Bangkok PostNews report · Aug 15, 4:45 AM

Powerful earthquake kills at least 20 in Indonesia

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara — Rescuers combed through debris for survivors on Saturday after a powerful earthquake struck off Flores island in eastern Indonesia, killing at least 20 people...

Open source
Center-leftHigh
Globe and MailNews report · Aug 15, 4:28 AM

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off eastern Indonesia

At least five people died after an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 and dozens of aftershocks struck off eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, a provincial governor said.

Open source
CenterMostly Factual
Washington's Top News (WTOP)News report · Aug 15, 3:55 AM

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off Indonesia’s coast, toppling buildings and killing at least 5

Authorities issued a tsunami warning for parts of eastern Indonesia, prompting residents to flee coastal areas.

Open source
Details55/99 Wording Gap · High confidence · 24 sources
55/99 Wording GapHigh confidence24 sources · 3 bias bucketsStable · 38 sources · all three buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Aug 15, 3:55 AM: Washington's Top News (WTOP) joined the source map.

Aug 15, 4:28 AM: Globe and Mail joined the source map.

Aug 15, 4:45 AM: Bangkok Post joined the source map.

Aug 15, 5:00 AM: Stuff (New Zealand) joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 55/99 and story health is stable · 38 sources · all three buckets · comparable news format.