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3 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 20m ago

Still Watching

One in critical condition, after Māngere assault overnight

Stuff (New Zealand) reaches for "alleged" where The New Zealand Herald stays flat.

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

STILL WATCHING

As of October 25, 2026 at 12:18 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened Police are seeking information on the alleged offender, who fled the scene.
The headline split The left frames it as "Person critical after late-night Auckland assault, alleged offender remains at large". The center frames it as "Māngere assault: Person in critical condition after attack on Massey Rd".
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

57/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftPerson critical after late-night Auckland assault, alleged offender remains at large

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

CenterOne in critical condition, after Māngere assault overnight

Radio New Zealand · Center · News report

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

Optics keeps watching for pickup.

SEE THE HEADLINES

CenterHigh
Radio New ZealandNews report · Oct 25, 12:18 AM

One in critical condition, after Māngere assault overnight

Police are seeking information on the alleged offender, who fled the scene.

Open source
CenterHigh
The New Zealand HeraldNews report · Oct 24, 10:34 PM

Māngere assault: Person in critical condition after attack on Massey Rd

The alleged assault happened outside a commercial premises at 12.10am.

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
Stuff (New Zealand)News report · Oct 24, 10:19 PM

Person critical after late-night Auckland assault, alleged offender remains at large

alleged

A person is in a critical condition after a late-night assault in Auckland and the alleged offender has yet to be located after fleeing the scene, police say.

Open source
Details57/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 3 sources
57/99 Wording GapMedium confidence3 sources · 2 bias bucketsLive match · 3 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Oct 24, 10:19 PM: Stuff (New Zealand) joined the source map.

Oct 24, 10:34 PM: The New Zealand Herald joined the source map.

Oct 25, 12:18 AM: Radio New Zealand joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 57/99 and story health is live match · 3 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news format.