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Prism
All rewrites

BBC

10 rewrites across 8 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 BBC rewrites a headline, it has

  • 3 times added or removed quotation marks — 30% of its rewrites
  • 2 times changed who the claim is attributed to — 20% of its rewrites
  • 2 times changed who is named — 20% 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.

  1. BBCrewritten 3×

    First seenWhat happened in the failed execution of Christa Pike - and what next?

    1. Rewrite 1 · Oct 7, 1:18 PM

      WasWhat happened in the failed execution of Christa Pike - and what next?

      NowHow did Christa Pike survive two lethal injections - and what happens now?

      SpectrumCenter→Center-left

      Prism reads the rewritten headline as center-left, where the original read center.

    2. Rewrite 2 · Oct 8, 12:47 AM

      WasHow did Christa Pike survive two lethal injections - and what happens now?

      NowWhat happened in the failed execution of Christa Pike - and how did she survive?

    3. Rewrite 3 · Oct 8, 11:51 AM

      Headline changed from: What happened in the failed execution of Christa Pike - and how did she survive?. To: What happened in Christa Pike's failed US execution, and how did she survive?.

    Story: Tennessee halts executions after Christa Pike survives two botched lethal injectionsRead the article
  2. BBC

    1. Headline changed from: How drunk is too drunk? Cornell rape allegations expose 'loopholes' in consent laws. To: Drinking and consent - Cornell rape allegations expose 'loopholes' in laws.

      SpectrumCenter-left→Center

      Prism reads the rewritten headline as center, where the original read center-left.

    Story: Cornell University appoints former acting attorney general to review sexual assault allegationsRead the article
  3. BBC

    1. Headline changed from: US death row inmate Christa Pike conscious after failed execution, lawyers say. To: US death row inmate Christa Pike awake and speaking after failed execution, lawyers say.

    Story: Christa Pike conscious and speaking after failed lethal injection in TennesseeRead the article
  4. BBC

    1. WasTrump tells UN he has 'big decision' on whether to 'annihilate' Iran or make peace deal

      NowTrump threatens to 'annihilate' Iran in UN speech as officials from both countries meet on sidelines

      • AttributionDropped the attribution “tells” — the headline no longer says who is claiming it.
      • Quotation marksRemoved the quotation marks around “big decision” — presented now as the outlet's own words.
    Story: Trump threatens to 'annihilate' Iran in UN General Assembly addressRead the article
  5. BBC

    1. WasUS and Denmark reach deal over Greenland after Trump annexation threats

      NowNato welcomes Greenland deal as Trump says it will give US 'permanent security control'

      • AttributionAdded the attribution “says” — the claim is now put in someone's mouth.
      • Who is namedNo longer names “Denmark”.
      • Quotation marksPut “permanent security control” in quotation marks — presented now as someone else's words.
      SpectrumCenter→Center-right

      Prism reads the rewritten headline as center-right, where the original read center.

    Story: U.S. and Denmark reach security deal on Greenland after Trump's annexation threatsRead the article
  6. BBC

    1. Headline changed from: Trump says Kennedy Center will shutter 'immediately', as judge rules his name must stay off building. To: Trump says Kennedy Center to close as court rules his name must stay off building.

      • Quotation marksRemoved the quotation marks around “immediately” — presented now as the outlet's own words.
    Story: Kennedy Center board votes to close building after judge blocks adding Trump's nameRead the article
  7. BBC

    1. WasSupreme Court blocks Trump's plan to restrict mail-in ballots

      NowTrump criticises Supreme Court after justices block mail-in ballot restrictions

    Story: Supreme Court blocks Trump administration plan to restrict mail-in voting for 2026 midterm electionsRead the article
  8. BBC

    1. Headline changed from: Iran war won't end until after US midterm elections, says Trump. To: Iran war won't end until after crucial November elections, says Trump.

      • Who is namedNow names “November”.
    Story: Trump says Iran war will end after midterm elections, not beforeRead the article