← 30 Aug Wednesday 31 August 2016 · to 23:59 UTC 1 Sep →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
60,657 stories about harm· Trends· Every past day

We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.

How to read these numbers →

The day's news pointed at violence in Mogadishu, people affected in Liberia and protests in Libreville (Gabon). Somalia's coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's. Language across the world's news ran softer than usual.

Reports of people falling ill ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Israel and Angola →
Part of lifeRights & justice 30 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostPoland 47 in 100 of its 508 stories, usually 20
RegionCentral Asia 54 in 100 of its stories, usually 31
Tone of the words Softer than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Conflict & violence

Somalia

267 of its 306 stories (87%) were about people being harmed, usually 62%. Mogadishu accounted for 207 of Somalia's 267 stories about harm, carried by 127 outlets. Reports of abductions ran at about 5 times the usual rate (12 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Somalia over 30 days → its stories → Mogadishu stories →
Health

Liberia

165 of its 279 stories (59%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people affected ran at about 9 times the usual rate (114 stories). Plague was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about 10 times usual.

Liberia over 30 days → its stories →
Displacement

Germany

Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (165 stories). Plague was named in 26 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

Germany over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Conflict & violence

Syria

Aleppo accounted for 890 of Syria's 1,474 stories about harm, carried by 805 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (405 stories). Accidents were named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Poland

241 of its 508 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of refugees ran at more than ten times the usual rate (110 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Lebanon

190 of its 327 stories (58%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (130 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Angola

104 of its 156 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (92 stories). Haemorrhagic fever was named in 91 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Tunisia

116 of its 146 stories (79%) were about people being harmed, usually 53%. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (61 stories). Its coverage was about 4 times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Kyrgyzstan

103 of its 165 stories (62%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Bishkek accounted for 93 of Kyrgyzstan's 103 stories about harm, carried by 63 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: haemorrhagic fever in Angola (91 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); tsunami in Papua New Guinea (32 of its stories, about 10 times its usual); dengue in Singapore (110 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); landslides in Iceland (25 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); drought in Vietnam (22 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

21 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 22; 22 the day before
24 in 10020 in 1002 Aug9 Aug16 Aug23 Aug31 Aug2 Aug: 21 in 1003 Aug: 21 in 1004 Aug: 21 in 1005 Aug: 21 in 1006 Aug: 22 in 1007 Aug: 22 in 1008 Aug: 20 in 1009 Aug: 20 in 10010 Aug: 20 in 10011 Aug: 20 in 10012 Aug: 20 in 10013 Aug: 22 in 10014 Aug: 24 in 10015 Aug: 23 in 10016 Aug: 22 in 10017 Aug: 22 in 10018 Aug: 21 in 10019 Aug: 20 in 10020 Aug: 22 in 10021 Aug: 24 in 10022 Aug: 22 in 10023 Aug: 22 in 10024 Aug: 23 in 10025 Aug: 22 in 10026 Aug: 22 in 10027 Aug: 24 in 10028 Aug: 23 in 10029 Aug: 23 in 10030 Aug: 22 in 10031 Aug: 21 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 31 Aug. 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 60,657 stories about harm among 283,484 counted on 31 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

In Angola's news, mentions of haemorrhagic fever ran more than ten times their usual. Stories about people being harmed made up 21 in every 100 of the day's 283,484 stories, as usual. People falling ill were reported at about twice the usual rate, most often about Israel and Angola. In Somalia, 87% of the news was about people being harmed, where 62% is usual.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Somalia87 in 100 of its 306 stories · usually 62 · mostly conflict & violence Yemen86 in 100 of its 429 stories · usually 82 · mostly conflict & violence Syria80 in 100 of its 1,832 stories · usually 76 · mostly conflict & violence Tunisia79 in 100 of its 146 stories · usually 53 · mostly conflict & violence Guatemala74 in 100 of its 126 stories · usually 62 · mostly rights & justice

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Harare Zimbabwe151 stories about protests or strikes, of its 211 Washington US113 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1006 Delhi India101 stories about protests or strikes, of its 785 Chicago US97 stories about protests or strikes, of its 495 Libreville Gabon90 stories about protests or strikes, of its 98

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: feelings about like the world'sVietnam: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: feelings about like the world'sU.S. Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sGuam: feelings about like the world'sPuerto Rico: feelings about like the world'sUnited States: feelings about like the world'sSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: feelings about like the world'sIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Kingdom: feelings about like the world'sUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: feelings about like the world'sTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sThailand: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Africa: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSlovenia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: too little coverage to readSerbia: too little coverage to readSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRwanda: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNew Zealand: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: feelings about like the world'sNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMozambique: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: feelings about like the world'sMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMexico: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalta: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKuwait: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKenya: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sPalestine: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: feelings about like the world'sHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: feelings about like the world'sGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: too little coverage to readFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFiji: feelings about like the world'sEthiopia: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readCzech Republic: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: feelings about like the world'sCuba: feelings about like the world'sCroatia: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCentral African Republic: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: feelings about like the world'sCanada: feelings about like the world'sCameroon: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: feelings about like the world'sBurkina Faso: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBrazil: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelarus: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAzerbaijan: feelings about like the world'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAndorra: too little coverage to readAlbania: feelings about like the world'sGaza: feelings about like the world'sWest Bank: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readEast Jerusalem: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: feelings about like the world'sMarshall Islands: feelings about like the world'sNorthern Mariana Islands: feelings about like the world'sAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos Islands: too little coverage to readSt. Helena: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBermuda: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readGuernsey: feelings about like the world'sSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: feelings about like the world'sMonaco: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: feelings about like the world'sNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: feelings about like the world'sMayotte: too little coverage to readZimbabwe: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sYemen: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sVenezuela: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sUzbekistan: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUkraine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sTunisia: coverage about 4 times as grief-stricken as the world'sTanzania: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sTajikistan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSyria: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSweden: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSudan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Korea: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSomalia: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sSierra Leone: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSenegal: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sRomania: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sQatar: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPoland: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sPhilippines: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sPeru: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sParaguay: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNorway: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sNetherlands: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sMali: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMalaysia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLithuania: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sLebanon: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sKyrgyzstan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKiribati: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKazakhstan: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sJordan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sJapan: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sItaly: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIraq: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sIndia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sIceland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHungary: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGreece: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sGabon: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sFrance: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNew Caledonia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sFinland: coverage a little warmer than the world'sEritrea: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sEgypt: coverage a little angrier than the world'sDenmark: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sCongo: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sColombia: coverage about twice as warm as the world'sChina: coverage a little warmer than the world'sChile: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBosnia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBolivia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBelgium: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBangladesh: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sBahrain: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sArmenia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sArgentina: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAngola: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sAlgeria: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sChina: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPitcairn: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sJersey: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMaldives: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLiechtenstein: coverage a little angrier than the world's
AngerGriefFearWarmth Like the world'sToo little news

Each country in the colour of the feeling its news carried most, against the world's news that day. Stronger colour: further above the world. Click a country.

Strongest feelings

● Kazakhstan few stories about three times as fearful as the world's · 38 stories about harm ● Colombia about twice as warm as the world's · 132 stories about harm ● Tunisia about 4 times as grief-stricken as the world's · 116 stories about harm ● Yemen about twice as angry as the world's · 371 stories about harm ● Netherlands about three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 135 stories about harm ● Syria about twice as angry as the world's · 1,474 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice30% 17,890 stories · more than usual (usually 28%) Health21% 12,464 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence18% 10,616 stories · much less than usual (usually 23%) Disasters & accidents17% 10,131 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given6% 3,537 stories · about as usual Displacement3% 1,745 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 1,630 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood3% 1,626 stories · about as usual

Of the stories about people being harmed, what part of life each was about. The mark is usual.

Harm reported 30 days →

Stories reporting people killed16,065 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests7,792 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected6,955 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured4,705 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Syria Stories reporting refugees1,122 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations806 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions774 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Bangladesh Stories reporting people displaced505 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill287 at about twice the usual rate · most about Israel and Angola

Stories that report it, not people: we count what reporters wrote, not what happened.

How it felt 30 days →

harshwarm

The words in the day's stories were softer than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little less than usual
● Fearabout as usual

From the words reporters used across the whole day, never one story. Fear is the weakest of the four measures. How?

The weekly briefing · 18 Oct – 24 Oct

The week in human impact

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How to read these numbers →

These are counts of stories, not counts of suffering. Most of what happens to people is never reported at all.