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26 sources checked · Left, Center, and Right included · 2h ago

Different Spin

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

ABC News - International and Epoch Times World describe the same event in different terms.

3 Left22 Center1 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-leftDeath toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers search damaged mallABC News - InternationalMostly Factual
Right-leaningJapan Quake Snarls Auto and Chip Supply Chains as Toll Hits 34Epoch Times WorldMixed
Center baseline · WDSU New Orleans (Hearst)HighJapan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

As of July 31, 2026 at 8:03 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.
The headline split The left frames it as "Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall". The right frames it as "Japan Quake Snarls Auto and Chip Supply Chains as Toll Hits 34".
Match confidence High confidence. 26 sources checked, Left/Center/Right all represented. Best read as a clear framing signal — not a fact-check.
Same-event confidenceHigh

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

Framing confidenceStrong

79/99 — headlines create a clearly different first impression.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftDeath toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

ABC News - International · Center-left · News report

CenterJapan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

WDSU New Orleans (Hearst) · Center · News report

Right / center-rightJapan Quake Snarls Auto and Chip Supply Chains as Toll Hits 34

Epoch Times World · Right · News report

SEE THE HEADLINES

CenterHigh
WDSU New Orleans (Hearst)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
WBIR10 (Tegna, Knoxville)News report · Jul 31, 8:03 AM

Death toll from Japan earthquake climbs to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall again

The disaster also left thousands of households without electricity and tens of thousands without tap water in nearly 100-degree heat.

Open source
CenterHigh
WFMY News 2 (Tegna, Greensboro)News report · Jul 31, 8:03 AM

Death toll from Japan earthquake climbs to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall again

The disaster also left thousands of households without electricity and tens of thousands without tap water in nearly 100-degree heat.

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
ABC News - InternationalNews report · Jul 31, 6:32 AM

Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

The death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan, according to the Kumamoto prefectural government

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
Stuff (New Zealand)News report · Jul 31, 6:17 AM

Rescuers race in last-ditch efforts to find survivors after Japan quake, thousands still displaced days on

The death toll from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan rose to 34, the Kumamoto prefectural government said Friday.

Open source
CenterHigh
Japan TimesNews report · Jul 31, 5:50 AM

Twenty-five cats rescued from Japan mall damaged by earthquake and explosion

Momo, Kohaku, Tango, Shandy and the others were on the ground floor of Aeon Mall in Kumamoto Prefecture when the deadly 7.1 magnitude quake hit on Tuesday.

Open source
Show all 26 sources
CenterHigh
WPLG Local 10 (Berkshire/Graham, Miami)News report · Jul 31, 5:43 AM

Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers again search damaged mall

KUMAMOTO, Japan (AP) — The death toll from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan rose to 34, the Kumamoto prefectural government said Friday, as rescuers raced in last-ditch efforts t...

Open source
Center-leftHigh
NPRNews report · Jul 31, 5:40 AM

Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34

Searchers continued to work in the Kumamoto area, including at the site of the collapsed mall, where some of the most serious damage was recorded.

Open source
CenterMostly Factual
Al Jazeera EnglishNews report · Jul 31, 4:59 AM

Families sleep in cars after homes destroyed in Japan earthquake

Residents in southwestern Japan have had to resort to sleeping in their cars for shelter, after a recent 6.8 magnitude.

Open source
RightMixed
Epoch Times WorldNews report · Jul 31, 3:52 AM

Japan Quake Snarls Auto and Chip Supply Chains as Toll Hits 34

KUMAMOTO, Japan—A powerful earthquake that struck southern Japan this week has exposed the vulnerability of the country’s manufacturing supply chains, a decade after a devastating quake in...

Open source
CenterHigh
WCVB Boston (Hearst)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
WMUR9 (Hearst, Manchester NH)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
WTAE Pittsburgh (Hearst)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
WBAL Baltimore (Hearst)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
KCRA3 Sacramento (Hearst)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
WISN12 Milwaukee (Hearst)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
WLWT Cincinnati (Hearst)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
WGAL8 (Hearst, Lancaster)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
WXII12 (Hearst, Greensboro)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
WYFF4 (Hearst, Greenville)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
WMTW8 (Hearst, Portland ME)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
KMBC9 (Hearst, Kansas City)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterHigh
WMUR Hearst WLKY32 (Louisville)News report · Jul 31, 3:47 AM

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

Officials say the death toll has climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes.

Open source
CenterMostly Factual
Washington's Top News (WTOP)News report · Jul 31, 3:35 AM

Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers again search damaged mall

KUMAMOTO, Japan (AP) — The death toll climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off…

Open source
CenterMostly Factual
News Channel 4 (KFOR.com)News report · Jul 31, 1:43 AM

Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 25

KUMAMOTO, Japan (AP) — Residents in southwestern Japan camped in classrooms and vehicles Thursday, stocked up on water and tried to get back to normal, two days after a powerful quake set o...

Open source
Details79/99 Wording Gap · High confidence · 26 sources
79/99 Wording GapHigh confidence26 sources · 3 bias bucketsStable · 26 sources · all three buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Jul 31, 1:43 AM: News Channel 4 (KFOR.com) joined the source map.

Jul 31, 3:35 AM: Washington's Top News (WTOP) joined the source map.

Jul 31, 3:47 AM: WDSU New Orleans (Hearst) joined the source map.

Jul 31, 3:47 AM: WCVB Boston (Hearst) joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 79/99 and story health is stable · 26 sources · all three buckets · comparable news format.