ABC News

6 rewrites across 6 articles that Prism has recorded. This is only what the outlet’s public feed showed while Prism was watching, so it is a sample of its habits, not a full account.

When ABC News rewrites a headline, it has

3 times changed who is named — 50% of its rewrites
2 times changed who the claim is attributed to — 33% of its rewrites
2 times added or removed quotation marks — 33% of its rewrites
2 times changed a figure — 33% of its rewrites

Each of these describes what the words do, not why the newsroom changed them. The rewrites below show the evidence for every count.

ABC NewsOct 4, 2:47 AM
1. Headline changed from: Tennessee Corrections commissioner resigns days after failed Christa Pike execution. To: Tennessee Correction commissioner resigns days after botched Christa Pike execution.
  SpectrumCenter→Center-left
  Prism reads the rewritten headline as center-left, where the original read center.
Story: Tennessee corrections commissioner resigns after botched Christa Pike execution Read the article
ABC NewsOct 1, 1:18 PM
1. WasLast US troops expected to leave Iraq on Wednesday following 12-year ISIS fight
  NowLast US troops complete 'orderly departure' from Iraq, CENTCOM says
  - AttributionAdded the attribution “says” — the claim is now put in someone's mouth.
  - Who is namedNo longer names “Wednesday”.
  - Quotation marksPut “orderly departure” in quotation marks — presented now as someone else's words.
  - FigureA figure disappeared: “12”.
Story: US-led coalition ends military mission in Iraq Read the article
ABC NewsSep 30, 5:14 AM
1. Headline changed from: Supreme Court rules Trump admin can continue rapid deportations to 3rd countries. To: Supreme Court allows rapid deportations to 3rd countries, agrees to hear case.
  - Who is namedNo longer names “Trump”.
  SpectrumCenter-right→Center
  Prism reads the rewritten headline as center, where the original read center-right.
Story: US Supreme Court allows Trump administration to resume rapid deportations to third countries Read the article
ABC NewsSep 27, 9:12 PM
1. Headline changed from: UK police arrest several under explosives act in 'major incident' near US air base. To: UK police arrest 5 men under terrorism, explosives acts close to US air base.
  - Quotation marksRemoved the quotation marks around “major incident” — presented now as the outlet's own words.
  - FigureA figure appeared: “5”.
Story: Multiple arrests made in 'major incident' near RAF Fairford, UK air base used for US strikes on Iran Read the article
ABC NewsSep 22, 5:12 AM
1. Headline changed from: Hundreds of flights canceled due to equipment outage. To: Flights resuming after equipment outage disrupts Northeast air travel: Duffy.
  - Who is namedNow names “Northeast”, “Duffy”.
Story: FAA grounds flights at major US Northeast airports due to fiber line cut at construction site Read the article
ABC NewsSep 19, 9:12 PM
1. WasTrump says he is banning CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House
  NowMS NOW, CNN, Politico reporters barred from White House after Trump announces ban
  - AttributionDropped the attribution “says” — the headline no longer says who is claiming it.
  - AttributionAdded the attribution “announces” — the claim is now put in someone's mouth.
  SpectrumCenter-left→Center
  Prism reads the rewritten headline as center, where the original read center-left.
Story: Trump bans CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House Read the article