We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
3,767 of its 4,831 stories (78%) were about people being harmed, usually 72%. Brussels accounted for 3,728 of Belgium's 3,767 stories about harm, carried by 1,798 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (1,276 stories). Plane crash was named in 16 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
146 of its 531 stories (27%) were about people being harmed, usually 12%. 30 of Seoul's 51 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (11 stories). Wildfires were named in 11 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
175 of its 349 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Reports of people injured ran at about 6 times the usual rate (51 stories). Road crashes were named in 11 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
62 of its 92 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Tirana accounted for 56 of Albania's 62 stories about harm, carried by 105 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at more than ten times the usual rate (58 stories).
223 of its 773 stories (29%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. Reports of people injured ran at about 6 times the usual rate (36 stories). Drownings were named in 24 of its stories about harm, about 10 times usual, with flooding. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
338 of its 523 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Mondulkiri accounted for 227 of Cambodia's 338 stories about harm, carried by 77 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at more than ten times the usual rate (170 stories).
72 of its 212 stories (34%) were about people being harmed, usually 13%. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (40 stories). Oil spill was named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual.
22 of its 40 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (14 stories). Dengue was named in 15 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
660 of its 1,071 stories (62%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Jerusalem accounted for 422 of Israel's 660 stories about harm, carried by 106 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about three times the usual rate (103 stories).
462 of its 2,162 stories (21%) were about people being harmed, usually 13%. 116 of Beijing's 168 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (94 stories).
Also named far more than usual: dengue in Angola (15 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); drought in Somalia (26 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); tuberculosis in South Africa (29 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); outbreaks in Jamaica (12 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); dengue in Chile (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 26 Mar. The big dot is this day; the shaded band is a normal day (the 30 days before it). Click a day to open it. Based on 30,328 stories about harm among 141,047 counted on 26 Mar.
Angola's news mentioned the dengue more than ten times as often as usual. 22 in every 100 of the day's 141,047 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 20. People falling ill were reported at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and Angola. the news turned to Belgium for the second day running. Belgium's news was 78% about people being harmed, against a usual 72%.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
Countries with at least 50 stories that day.
Stories, not people.
The day's biggest events: attacks, accidents and disasters, people displaced, protests, outbreaks. Bigger dot: more stories. Ranked by the share of the day's outlets that reported it and how clearly it was about one thing, the same way for every place and year; the news data does not say who attacked whom, so both sides of a war appear where the news put them. Click a dot for its stories.
Of the stories about people being harmed, what part of life each was about. The mark is usual.
Stories that report it, not people: we count what reporters wrote, not what happened.
The words in the day's stories were much harsher than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.
From the words reporters used across the whole day, never one story. Fear is the weakest of the four measures. How?
Unlock a year of trends, free. Follow up to 5 countries, with a bell when their news changes, and 👍 vote for Pro — ten years of the archive, any period, daily alerts.
Create a free accountSign in · a username, an email and a password.