We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
95 of its 119 stories (80%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Manus Island accounted for 91 of Papua New Guinea's 95 stories about harm, carried by 134 outlets. 88 of Manus Island's 91 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of refugees ran at more than ten times the usual rate (91 stories). Drownings were named in 88 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Fear in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
47 of its 122 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (11 stories). Earthquake was named in 26 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
98 of its 129 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Bucharest accounted for 97 of Romania's 98 stories about harm, carried by 125 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (96 stories).
135 of its 243 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people killed ran at about 4 times the usual rate (119 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
154 of its 273 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. 27 of al-Hoceima's 27 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about 4 times the usual rate (81 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
520 of its 790 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Jakarta accounted for 469 of Indonesia's 520 stories about harm, carried by 456 outlets. 446 of Jakarta's 469 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 7 times the usual rate (276 stories).
125 of its 209 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Warsaw accounted for 113 of Poland's 125 stories about harm, carried by 108 outlets. 70 of Warsaw's 113 stories were about protests or strikes.
737 of its 1,689 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. 647 of Seoul's 708 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (341 stories).
117 of its 247 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (76 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
1,152 of its 1,378 stories (84%) were about people being harmed, usually 75%. Reports of people displaced ran at about twice the usual rate (232 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
Also named far more than usual: wildfires in Australia (333 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); outbreaks in Belarus (22 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); malaria in Ghana (25 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hiv in Kenya (19 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); hunger in South Sudan (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 5 Nov. 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 34,412 stories about harm among 157,111 counted on 5 Nov.
In Papua New Guinea's news, mentions of drownings ran more than ten times their usual. Stories about people being harmed made up 22 in every 100 of the day's 157,111 stories, above the usual 21. Papua New Guinea's news was 80% about people being harmed, against a usual 27%. On the side of help, reports of people freed or reunited ran at about one and a half times the usual rate.
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.