LOADED WORDS
“protesters” — what this word changes.
"Protesters" frames the gathering as legitimate civic expression. The contrast term "rioters" frames it as criminal violence.
“protesters” makes the story feel likecivic, lawful, citizens exercising rights.
The contrast: “rioters”The other side's framing of the same event: violent mob, criminal, lawless.
See the “rioters” page → Live headlines using “protesters”
Different Spin‘Hope again’: Burnham returns to Labour conference to sell his visionUsed the word:
- “Human rights barrister, 94, among Palestine Action protesters arrested outside Labour conference in Liverpool” — Daily Mail (Center-right)
- “Palestine Action protesters cheer as they are arrested outside Labour party conference” — Wales Online (Center-left)
Other outlets covered the same event:
- “Multiple arrests as hundreds of pro-Palestine Action demonstrators gather outside Labour conference” — The Independent (Center-left)
- “Labour conference: Lisa Nandy reveals 'real Ed Sheeran' she knows after star faced 'horrendous hate and bile'” — The Mirror UK (Center-left)
5 sources · 3L / 1C / 1RDifferent SpinNorthern Ireland protesters block Orange Order march into Catholic areaUsed the word:
- “Northern Ireland protesters block Orange Order march into Catholic area” — Al Jazeera English (Center)
- “Northern Ireland: 2,000 protesters block disputed Portadown march” — Euronews (Center)
Other outlets covered the same event:
- “Tensions run high in Northern Ireland after contentious march blocked from historic flashpoint” — Stuff (New Zealand) (Center-left)
- “Large crowd still in place on Garvaghy Road, stalling Drumcree Orange Order march” — The Journal (Ireland) (Center-left)
7 sources · 4L / 3C / 0R How Optics uses these words
Optics doesn't decide which framing is “right.” It surfaces them so a reader can see, in one glance, that the same event is being labeled completely differently depending on which outlet picked the verb. See the full loaded-word catalog or read the methodology.