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Alligator kills 71-year-old man fishing at a pond in Winter Garden, Florida

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 13 outlets across the spectrum.

21 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Aerial view of a lake and grassy shoreline with small figures and parked vehicles, residential homes nearby.
Image via NBC NewsHow images are chosenReport this image

A 71-year-old man, Steven Hamilton, was killed by an alligator while fishing at a pond in Winter Garden, Florida, on Friday, according to authorities. Reports across the spectrum say the alligator was about 12 feet long. The Daily Beast reports that the animal dragged him from the shoreline into the water while other alligators hampered rescue efforts. According to The New York Times, authorities said the alligator was later removed as a danger to the public. The Daily Mail and the New York Post report, citing a witness, that Hamilton slipped while running from the alligator. Fox News and The Washington Times report that it was the second fatal alligator attack in Florida this year.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. A 71-year-old man was killed by an alligator while fishing at a pond in Winter Garden, Florida, on Friday, according to authorities.

    Reported byFar Left1Left5Center1Right3Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Left
    ABC News, CBS News, The Guardian, NBC News, The New York Times
    Center
    BBC News
    Right
    The Washington Times, Daily Mail, New York Post
    Far Right
    Fox News, Breitbart News

  2. The alligator was reported to be about 12 feet long.

    Reported byFar Left1Left2Center1Right3Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Left
    The Guardian, The New York Times
    Center
    BBC News
    Right
    The Washington Times, Daily Mail, New York Post
    Far Right
    Fox News, Breitbart News

  3. Authorities said the alligator was removed as a danger to the public.

    One outletThe New York Times· Left

  4. Reports say it was the second fatal alligator attack in Florida this year.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    The Washington Times
    Far Right
    Fox News

  5. A witness, Jason Handley, told the Daily Mail and the New York Post that Hamilton slipped while running from the alligator, which then grabbed him.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    Daily Mail, New York Post

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports that a 71-year-old man was killed by a roughly 12-foot alligator while fishing in Florida on Friday. The left and center lead with the attack and the death, while the right puts more weight on the animal's size and on a witness account of the slip.

  • the left

    6 outlets

    Left outlets state the death plainly, but the far-left Daily Beast headline, Giant Alligator Pulls Man to His Death, is the most dramatic on the side.

    Alligator kills 71-year-old man fishing at pond in Florida
    CBS NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    The single center outlet, the BBC, uses a plain headline, Alligator kills 71-year-old man fishing in Florida, that matches the left's wording and gives the animal's size in the description.

    Alligator kills 71-year-old man fishing in Florida
    BBC NewsCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    6 outlets

    Right outlets stress the alligator's size and the victim's fishing, with Breitbart's Monstrous Alligator headline the most dramatic, while the Daily Mail and New York Post headlines center a witness's account of the slip.

    Sensational language“Monstrous”The adjective adds a judgement of menace to the animal beyond its reported size and the facts of the attack.More neutral: Nearly 12-footDisagree with this highlight? Alligator Fatally Attacks Senior Fishing Along Lake Shoreline in Central Florida
    Breitbart NewsFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left4

    Florida Manshowing offgleefully posedDisturbing

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right16

    savagedthe beastinfested watersinfested with dangerous animals

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded verb

    savagedMore neutral: attacked

    Savaged describes the attack in the language of animal fury, while attacked reports the same event without tone.

    A 71-year-old man was fatally savaged by a 12-foot alligator while fishing on the shoreline in Florida on Friday afternoon.…

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    the beastMore neutral: alligator

    Calling the alligator a beast adds drama that the plain word alligator does not.

    after Hamilton was mauled by the beast while on the shoreline of Lake Apopka, 15 miles northwest of Orlando.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    infested watersMore neutral: waters with many alligators

    The word infested presents the lake's alligator population in a loaded way rather than describing it neutrally.

    A Florida fisherman was killed by a 12-foot alligator in infested waters during a attack near Lake Apoka.

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    infested with dangerous animalsMore neutral: where many alligators live

    Calling the lake infested with dangerous animals describes the wildlife in loaded terms; the article's own reporting says only that many alligators live there.

    Fisherman, 71, killed by 12-foot alligator in Florida waters infested with dangerous animals

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

Show 16 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Sensational language

    Florida ManMore neutral: Man, 71, killed by alligator while fishing near Lake Apopka

    The Florida Man label is a joking meme that invites mockery of the victim and the state rather than reporting the event plainly.

    Florida Man Killed by Alligator While Fishing Near Lake Apopka in Winter Garden

    Used byThe New York Times (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    innocently fishedMore neutral: while fishing

    The word asserts the victim's innocence as a judgement the reported facts do not state.

    A nearly 12-foot-long alligator took the life of a 71-year-old senior as he innocently fished along the shore of a lake in Florida near Orlando Friday afternoon.

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    MonstrousMore neutral: Nearly 12-foot

    The adjective adds a judgement of menace to the animal beyond its reported size and the facts of the attack.

    Monstrous Alligator Fatally Attacks Senior Fishing Along Lake Shoreline in Central Florida

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    GargantuanMore neutral: Large

    The adjective inflates the alligator's size beyond the reported measurement with dramatic emphasis.

    71-Year-Old Man Killed By Gargantuan Alligator In Florida

    Used byThe Daily Caller (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    horrified witnessesMore neutral: witnesses

    The phrase adds an emotional reaction to the witnesses that the reported facts do not state.

    …12-foot predator beside Lake Apopka in Dr Bradford Memorial Park in front of horrified witnesses on Friday.

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    enormous alligatorMore neutral: 12-foot alligator

    The adjective adds drama beyond the reported length of about 12 feet.

    Fisherman, 71, killed by enormous alligator while posing for photo with his catch on banks of Florida lake

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    HellishMore neutral: Final moments

    The word adds dread that the reported facts do not state on their own.

    Hellish final moments of fisherman snatched and killed by alligator while showing off his…

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    showing off his catchMore neutral: posing with his catch

    The phrase attributes vanity to the victim, while the excerpt says he was posing for a photograph with a fish.

    Hellish final moments of fisherman snatched and killed by alligator while showing off his catch revealed by coroner who said victim was alive as he was dragged off

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    horrific attackMore neutral: attack

    Adds an emotional judgement to a plain description of the event.

    …hide his glee when he reeled in a bass on Friday evening, seconds before the horrific attack.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    HarrowingMore neutral: New details emerge

    Labels the new details as dramatic before the reader has read them.

    Harrowing new details emerge in death of Florida fisherman savaged by 12-foot alligator on…

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    showing offMore neutral: holding up

    Showing off implies vanity, a motive the reporting does not establish.

    …fisherman who was killed by an alligator while standing on a Florida shoreline was showing off his catch just moments before the attack.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    gleefully posedMore neutral: posed

    Gleefully adds a judgement of the victim's mood that the reported details do not establish.

    It has now emerged that Hamilton asked for a photo of him holding a bass and gleefully posed for it just seconds before the alligator attacked him.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    DisturbingMore neutral: New details

    The word tells readers how to feel about the details before they are given.

    Disturbing Details Emerge in Fisherman’s Fatal Alligator Attack

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    stoleMore neutral: after he went near its food

    Scare quotes around stole suggest the victim took something from the animal, a claim the article does not establish.

    My fisherman friend, 71, was killed by an alligator after he 'stole' its dinner.

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    beastMore neutral: alligator

    The word adds menace beyond the description of an alligator.

    …trying to flee a massive 12-foot alligator slipped and fell moments before the beast clamped onto his leg and dragged him into the water, according to a report.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    monster gatorMore neutral: 12-foot alligator

    The phrase adds menace beyond the facts of the animal's size.

    Bradford Memorial Park when he heard the monster gator creeping out of the water just feet away, the Daily Mail reported.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

6 outlets

Leads with

  • the death of the 71-year-old man
  • the alligator's size
  • authorities' account
  • the rescue attempt

Leaves out

  • the witness account that the man slipped while running
  • the second fatal attack in Florida this year

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 7 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • The Daily BeastFar Left

    Sensational language“Disturbing”The word tells readers how to feel about the details before they are given.More neutral: New detailsDisagree with this highlight? Details Emerge in Fisherman’s Fatal Alligator Attack

    A fisherman who was killed by an alligator while standing on a Florida shoreline was Loaded verb“showing off”Showing off implies vanity, a motive the reporting does not establish.More neutral: holding upDisagree with this highlight? his catch just moments before the attack. Steven Hamilton, 71, was mauled by the animal while he stood on the banks of Lake Apopka at Dr. …

    Read at The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from The Daily Beast
  • CBS NewsLeft

    Florida man killed by 12-foot alligator near Orlando while fishing

    A 71-year-old man was killed by a 12-foot alligator near Orlando, Florida. Witnesses say he was fishing.

    Read at CBS News (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from CBS News
  • The New York TimesLeft

    Sensational language“Florida Man”The Florida Man label is a joking meme that invites mockery of the victim and the state rather than reporting the event plainly.More neutral: Man, 71, killed by alligator while fishing near Lake ApopkaDisagree with this highlight? Killed by Alligator While Fishing Near Lake Apopka in Winter Garden

    The man, 71, was fishing at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park near Lake Apopka when he was killed by a 12-foot alligator. The reptile was later “removed as a danger to the public,” the authorities said.

    Read at The New York Times (opens in a new tab)
  • ABC NewsLeftAssociated Press report

    Fisherman, 71, attacked and killed by 12-foot alligator alongside Florida lake

    The presence of other active alligators complicated any chance of rescuing him.

    Read at ABC News (opens in a new tab)
  • NBC NewsLeft

    71-year-old man dies after alligator attack while fishing in Florida, police say

    A 71-year-old man died after an alligator attacked him while he was fishing, authorities said on Friday.

    Read at NBC News (opens in a new tab)
  • The GuardianLeft

    Florida fisher dragged into water and killed by 12ft alligator

    Steve Hamilton was fishing in Winter Garden when he was attacked by gator, which was later killed A man fishing at a pond in Florida was killed on Friday by an alligator that was almost 12ft long in a rare kind of animal attack, according to authorities and media reports.

    Read at The Guardian (opens in a new tab)
  • ABC NewsLeft

    WATCH: Authorities: Fatal alligator attack in Winter Garden, Florida

    Police say the man was fishing along the shoreline at a park when he was attacked and killed by an alligator.

    Read at ABC News (opens in a new tab)

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • the death of the man
  • the alligator's size
  • the location near Orlando

Leaves out

  • the witness account of the slip

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the headline from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

6 outlets

Leads with

  • the alligator's size
  • the victim's age and fishing
  • the witness account of the slip
  • the second fatal attack in Florida this year

Leaves out

  • the alligator being removed as a danger to the public

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 6 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    First to report

    ABC News, Oct 16, 8:24 PM EDT

  • Center

    16 hr 28 min later

    Its first report, Oct 17, 12:52 PM EDT

  • Right

    12 hr later

    Its first report, Oct 17, 8:27 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. ABC NewsLeftOct 16, 8:24 PM EDT
  2. New York PostRightOct 17, 8:27 AM EDT
  3. CBS NewsLeftOct 17, 9:38 AM EDT
  4. The GuardianLeftOct 17, 11:23 AM EDT
  5. NBC NewsLeftOct 17, 11:24 AM EDT
  6. BBC NewsCenterOct 17, 12:52 PM EDT
  7. Daily MailRightOct 17, 2:59 PM EDT
  8. The New York TimesLeftOct 17, 2:59 PM EDT
  9. The Washington TimesRightOct 17, 5:00 PM EDT
  10. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 18, 3:01 AM EDT
  11. Fox NewsFar RightOct 18, 6:00 AM EDT
  12. Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 18, 9:59 AM EDT
  13. The Daily CallerFar RightOct 18, 10:22 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

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