New Jersey township reports $26 million fraudulent wire transfer made in September

In the outlets’ own words

• Sensational language

  staggeringMore neutral: $26 million

  The adjective adds drama to the size of the loss rather than stating it neutrally.

  A New Jersey township lost a staggering $26 million in a fraudulent wire transfer -- but residents are furious that…

  Used byNew York Post (Right)Fox News (Far Right)

• Loaded verb

  sat onMore neutral: did not disclose until after

  The idiom implies deliberate concealment, which the reporting does not establish; the mayor’s statement gave no reason for the delay.

  NJ town loses $26M — and Dems sat on theft until after Election Day

  Used byNew York Post (Right)

• Sensational language

  debacleMore neutral: situation

  Calling the situation a debacle is an evaluative word in the outlet’s own voice rather than a neutral description of events.

  …disclosed before the election, Fox News Digital and other outlets reported, in a debacle that now is making national headlines because of its suspicious timing.

  Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

• Loaded modifier

  suspicious timingMore neutral: timing of the disclosure

  Describing the timing as suspicious pre-judges the reason for the delay, which the excerpt does not establish.

  …reported, in a debacle that now is making national headlines because of its suspicious timing.

  Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)