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Expedition searches Nikumaroro island for Amelia Earhart's plane

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 15 outlets across the spectrum.

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

Three people smile on a ship deck at sea, with waves and a lifeboat visible.
Image via The Daily BeastHow images are chosenReport this image

An expedition of 17 people, including a team led by Purdue University researchers, went to the uninhabited Pacific island of Nikumaroro to search for the wreckage of Amelia Earhart's plane. Earhart vanished in 1937 while trying to fly around the world. The team was checking a satellite image anomaly and a submerged object that some hoped was the aircraft. Sky News and Straight Arrow News report that the search ended without recovering wreckage, and that the object was likely just large trees. Some researchers still believe Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan landed on the island. Sceptics had said satellite images were unlikely to show the aircraft.

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. Amelia Earhart vanished in 1937 while attempting to become the first woman to fly around the world.

    Reported byFar Left1Left1Center3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Left
    The Guardian
    Center
    BBC News, Newsweek, Straight Arrow News

  2. A 17-person expedition, including Purdue University researchers, arrived on the uninhabited Pacific island of Nikumaroro to search for the plane.

    Reported byFar Left1Left1Right1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Left
    NBC News
    Right
    The Washington Times
    Far Right
    Fox News

  3. The team was checking a satellite image anomaly and a submerged object that some hoped was Earhart's plane.

    Reported byLeft1Center1Right1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The Guardian
    Center
    Sky News
    Right
    The Washington Times
    Far Right
    Fox News

  4. The search ended without recovering any wreckage.

    One side only: the centerReported byCenter2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Center
    Straight Arrow News, Sky News

  5. Researchers reported that the object was likely just large trees.

    One outletSky News· Center

  6. Some researchers believe Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan landed on Nikumaroro island after disappearing.

    One outletStraight Arrow News· Center

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The object the expedition investigated is Amelia Earhart's plane.

    Fox News says explorers are zeroing in on a mysterious object that could be the plane, and Townhall asks whether the plane will finally be located. The Guardian reports that sceptics say satellite images are unlikely to show her aircraft. Sky News reports that researchers found the object was likely just large trees.

How each side tells it

Compare views

All three sides report that an expedition, including a Purdue University team, reached Nikumaroro to search for Amelia Earhart's plane. Left and right headlines focus on the mystery and the possible plane, while center headlines lead with the search finding no wreckage.

  • the left

    5 outlets

    Left-side headlines present the expedition as a mystery-solving quest and its arrival as news, with the Daily Beast's Carnivorous Island headline the most sensational.

    Team Arrives at Remote Island in Search of Amelia Earhart’s Plane
    NBC NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    5 outlets

    Center headlines lead with the expedition's hope or with its outcome, the search coming up empty and the object likely being trees, and use a neutral map headline.

    Object thought to be Amelia Earhart’s missing plane likely just 'large trees', researchers find
    Sky NewsCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    5 outlets

    Right-side headlines present the object as close to being identified, with Fox News saying explorers zero in on it and the New York Post stressing the crab-infested lagoon, while Townhall asks a question.

    Team hunting Amelia Earhart's plane arrives at Nikumaroro, with fieldwork set to start
    The Washington TimesRightAll 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.

  • Left2

    sceptics sayCarnivorous Island

  • Center2

    crab-infestedso-called

  • Right8

    critical phasemysterious objectoverrun by massiveman-eating

In the outlets’ own words

  • Vague attribution

    sceptics sayMore neutral: other Earhart researchers say

    The view is attributed to an unnamed group, so the reader cannot tell who holds it or how well-founded it is.

    Researchers will head to remote Pacific atoll, but sceptics say satellite images unlikely to be of her aircraft A team of US researchers is…

    Used byThe Guardian (Left)

  • Sensational language

    crab-infestedMore neutral: crab-inhabited

    The word suggests a pest problem that goes beyond the reported presence of large crabs on the island.

    Crew searching for Amelia Earhart arrives at crab-infested island

    Used byBBC News (Center)

  • Sensational language

    critical phaseMore neutral: new stage

    The phrase presents the expedition as a dramatic turning point, which the reported facts do not establish.

    Amelia Earhart mystery enters critical phase as explorers zero in on mysterious object

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    mysterious objectMore neutral: object

    The word adds an air of mystery to an object the team is investigating without established identity.

    Amelia Earhart mystery enters critical phase as explorers zero in on mysterious object

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

Show 8 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Sensational language

    Carnivorous IslandMore neutral: Remote island with large crabs

    Calling the island carnivorous is a dramatic label that the reported facts about the crabs do not require.

    Researchers Looking for Amelia Earhart’s Remains Arrive at Carnivorous Island

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    overrun by massiveMore neutral: home to large

    The phrase suggests crabs are taking over the island, which goes beyond the reported presence of large land crabs.

    …launched a high-stakes expedition to Nikumaroro, a remote South Pacific atoll overrun by massive, three-foot land crabs.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    man-eatingMore neutral: large crab-infested lagoon

    The word adds menace beyond the reported crab attacks, which are described only as occasional and unconfirmed.

    Expedition to find Amelia Earhart’s lost plane continues in giant man-eating crab-infested lagoon

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    crucial deadlineMore neutral: scheduled departure

    The word adds urgency beyond the planned departure date that the article reports.

    Race to find Amelia Earhart's lost plane hits rough seas as crucial deadline nears

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Delegitimizing label

    so-calledMore neutral: (omit)

    Sneer quotes in word form.

    …to solve the mystery of the famed aviator's disappearance by investigating the so-called Taraia Object, spotted in the atoll's lagoon in aerial imagery.

    Used byBBC News (Center)

  • Sensational language

    devastating setbackMore neutral: setback

    The phrase adds emotional drama to a reported result that the excerpt describes plainly.

    …on a grueling journey to find Amelia Earhart's missing plane have suffered a devastating setback.

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    crushing setbackMore neutral: setback

    The phrase adds dramatic weight beyond the reported fact that the expedition did not find the plane.

    Amelia Earhart search suffers crushing setback after researchers make disappointing find

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    disappointing findMore neutral: find that the object was tree debris

    Calling the find disappointing passes a judgement on the result that the reported facts do not state.

    Amelia Earhart search suffers crushing setback after researchers make disappointing find

    Used byFox News (Far 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

5 outlets

Leads with

  • the search for Earhart's remains
  • the Purdue team's arrival
  • doubts about the satellite images

Leaves out

  • the search ending without recovering wreckage

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

See the 5 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

5 outlets

Leads with

  • the search ending without wreckage
  • the object likely being large trees
  • researchers still believing Earhart landed on the island
See the 5 headlines from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

5 outlets

Leads with

  • the mysterious object possibly being the plane
  • the expedition's arrival at the island
  • the mystery entering a critical phase

Leaves out

  • the search ending without recovering wreckage
  • the explanation that the object was likely large trees

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

See the 5 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

    CBS News, Oct 10, 11:36 AM EDT

  • Center

    2 hr 46 min later

    Its first report, Oct 10, 2:22 PM EDT

  • Right

    2 days 22 hr later

    Its first report, Oct 13, 10:31 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. CBS NewsLeftOct 10, 11:36 AM EDT
  2. BBC NewsCenterOct 10, 2:22 PM EDT
  3. The GuardianLeftOct 12, 9:37 AM EDT
  4. NBC NewsLeftOct 13, 7:51 AM EDT
  5. The Washington TimesRightOct 13, 10:31 AM EDT
  6. Fox NewsFar RightOct 13, 12:45 PM EDT
  7. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 13, 3:10 PM EDT
  8. New York PostRightOct 13, 5:37 PM EDT
  9. NewsweekCenterOct 13, 5:55 PM EDT
  10. TownhallFar RightOct 15, 8:30 AM EDT
  11. The New York TimesLeftOct 19, 6:47 AM EDT
  12. Straight Arrow NewsCenterOct 19, 8:18 AM EDT
  13. Sky NewsCenterOct 19, 10:45 AM EDT
  14. The HillCenterOct 19, 2:20 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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