Center-leftMostly Factual
The IndependentNews report · Sep 18, 7:56 AM
Swimmer killed in shark attack off popular Australian beach
There have been four other confirmed fatal shark attacks in Australia this year
← Today's headlines
7 sources checked · Left, Center, and Right included · 34m ago
Different Spin
Shark kills swimmer off beach in Western Australia
ABC News and The Sun (US) describe the same event in different terms.
4 Left1 Center2 Right
DIFFERENT SPIN
HOW EACH SIDE WORDED IT
Left-leaningCenter-leftSwimmer killed in shark attack off popular Australian beach
The IndependentMostly Factual
Right-leaningMan feared dead after shark attack just 50ft from shore at popular beach in front of horrified sunbathers
The Sun (US)Mixed
Center baseline · 
RTE News (Ireland)HighShark kills swimmer off beach in Western Australia
As of September 18, 2026 at 8:39 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.
What happened A shark killed a man as he swam off a popular beach near Perth in Western Australia, police said.
The headline split The left frames it as "Swimmer killed in shark attack off popular Australian beach". The right frames it as "Man feared dead after shark attack just 50ft from shore at popular beach in front of horr...".
Match confidence High confidence. 7 sources checked, Left/Center/Right all represented. Best read as a clear framing signal — not a fact-check.
Same-event confidenceHigh
7 sources across Left, Center, and Right all describe the same event.
Framing confidenceStrong
81/99 — headlines create a clearly different first impression.
WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED
Left / center-leftSwimmer killed in shark attack off popular Australian beach
The Independent · Center-left · News report
CenterShark kills swimmer off beach in Western Australia
RTE News (Ireland) · Center · News report
Right / center-rightShark kills swimmer in attack off Australian beach as witnesses recall seeing ‘pool of blood’
New York Post · Center-right · News report
SEE THE HEADLINES
Open source
Center-rightMixed
New York PostNews report · Sep 18, 8:39 AM
Shark kills swimmer in attack off Australian beach as witnesses recall seeing ‘pool of blood’
A man was killed by a shark as he swam off a Western Australian city beach Friday, police said.
CenterHigh
RTE News (Ireland)News report · Sep 18, 8:06 AM
Shark kills swimmer off beach in Western Australia
A shark killed a man as he swam off a popular beach near Perth in Western Australia, police said.
Center-leftHigh
ABC NewsNews report · Sep 18, 7:01 AM
Fatal shark attack suspected near Australian city beach
Emergency services are responding to a suspected fatal shark attack off a beach in the Australian west coast city of Perth
Center-leftHigh
The Seattle TimesNews report · Sep 18, 6:55 AM
Fatal shark attack suspected near Australian city beach
Emergency services are responding to a suspected fatal shark attack off a beach in the Australian west coast city of Perth.
Center-leftMixed
The Mirror UKNews report · Sep 18, 6:44 AM
Swimmer feared dead after 'shocking' shark attack at popular Australia beach
A northern suburb of Perth, Western Australia, is in shock after a man has reportedly died in a shark attack on Friday morning, with a nurse who witnessed the incident saying he was 'mauled'
Show all 7 sources
RightMixed
The Sun (US)News report · Sep 18, 6:17 AM
Man feared dead after shark attack just 50ft from shore at popular beach in front of horrified sunbathers
A MAN is feared dead after a terrifying shark attack unfolded in front of horrified witnesses at a popular Australian beach. Police and paramedics raced to Sorrento Beach, in Perth's north,...
Details81/99 Wording Gap · High confidence · 7 sources
81/99 Wording GapHigh confidence7 sources · 3 bias bucketsStable · 7 sources · all three buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report
SOURCE MAP CHANGES
Sep 18, 6:17 AM: The Sun (US) joined the source map.
Sep 18, 6:44 AM: The Mirror UK joined the source map.
Sep 18, 6:55 AM: The Seattle Times joined the source map.
Sep 18, 7:01 AM: ABC News joined the source map.
Now: Wording Gap is 81/99 and story health is stable · 7 sources · all three buckets · comparable news format.