← 19 Dec Tuesday 20 December 2016 · to 23:59 UTC 21 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
57,769 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 →

Protests in Ankara (Türkiye), violence in Berlin and evacuations in South Africa drew the news. Germany's coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's. Taken together, the world's news read much harsher than usual.

Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Germany and the US → Reports of refugees ran at about three times the usual rate, most often about Germany and Türkiye → Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about twice the usual rate →
Part of lifeConflict & violence 32 in 100 of the stories about harm · much more than usual Country that rose mostGermany 78 in 100 of its 8,604 stories, usually 26
RegionEurope 33 in 100 of its stories, usually 18
Tone of the words Much harsher than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Protests & strikes

Türkiye

3,098 of its 4,282 stories (72%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Ankara accounted for 2,633 of Türkiye's 3,098 stories about harm, carried by 1,442 outlets. 1,474 of Ankara's 2,633 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (1,417 stories). Train derailment was named in 46 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

Türkiye over 30 days → its stories → Ankara stories →
Conflict & violence

Germany

6,677 of its 8,604 stories (78%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Berlin accounted for 6,310 of Germany's 6,677 stories about harm, carried by 2,477 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (5,131 stories). Tornadoes were named in 278 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

Germany over 30 days → its stories → Berlin stories →
Rights & justice

South Africa

345 of its 1,223 stories (28%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 6 times the usual rate (5 stories). Hunger was named in 14 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

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

Jordan

677 of its 926 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Reports of people displaced ran at more than ten times the usual rate (38 stories). Hurricane was named in 66 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with cholera, extreme cold and volcanic eruption. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Guinea

130 of its 206 stories (63%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. Conakry accounted for 112 of Guinea's 130 stories about harm, carried by 122 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (112 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

South Sudan

245 of its 262 stories (94%) were about people being harmed, usually 65%. Dinka accounted for 188 of South Sudan's 245 stories about harm, carried by 193 outlets. 105 of Dinka's 188 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Russia

1,377 of its 3,789 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 6 times the usual rate (33 stories). Accidents were named in 20 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Grief in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Switzerland

661 of its 1,187 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Zurich accounted for 544 of Switzerland's 661 stories about harm, carried by 510 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (506 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Austria

147 of its 325 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (33 stories). Its coverage was about three times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: power cuts in Ukraine (35 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); drought in Kenya (36 of its stories, about 9 times its usual); road crashes in Lesotho (11 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); heavy rain in Nepal (14 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hurricane in Jordan (66 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

23 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 21; 21 the day before
25 in 10020 in 10021 Nov28 Nov5 Dec12 Dec20 Dec21 Nov: 21 in 10022 Nov: 22 in 10023 Nov: 20 in 10024 Nov: 21 in 10025 Nov: 21 in 10026 Nov: 23 in 10027 Nov: 23 in 10028 Nov: 20 in 10029 Nov: 20 in 10030 Nov: 20 in 1001 Dec: 20 in 1002 Dec: 20 in 1003 Dec: 22 in 1004 Dec: 22 in 1005 Dec: 20 in 1006 Dec: 20 in 1007 Dec: 21 in 1008 Dec: 20 in 1009 Dec: 21 in 10010 Dec: 23 in 10011 Dec: 22 in 10012 Dec: 20 in 10013 Dec: 20 in 10014 Dec: 20 in 10015 Dec: 20 in 10016 Dec: 21 in 10017 Dec: 23 in 10018 Dec: 25 in 10019 Dec: 21 in 10020 Dec: 23 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 20 Dec. 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 57,769 stories about harm among 253,762 counted on 20 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

On the side of help, reports of people freed or reunited ran at about twice the usual rate. Stories about people being harmed made up 23 in every 100 of the day's 253,762 stories, above the usual 21. Mentions of power cuts ran more than ten times their usual in Ukraine's news. People injured were reported at about twice the usual rate, most often about Germany and the US. Türkiye stood out: 72% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 41%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

South Sudan94 in 100 of its 262 stories · usually 65 · mostly conflict & violence Solomon Islands93 in 100 of its 98 stories · usually 76 · mostly disasters & accidents Syria81 in 100 of its 2,406 stories · usually 79 · mostly conflict & violence Ecuador81 in 100 of its 129 stories · usually 30 · mostly disasters & accidents Germany78 in 100 of its 8,604 stories · usually 26 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Ankara Türkiye1474 stories about protests or strikes, of its 2633 Aleppo Syria448 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1685 Washington US324 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1404 Berlin Germany316 stories about protests or strikes, of its 6310 Palm Beach US304 stories about protests or strikes, of its 329

Stories, not people.

Where the news was warmest

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: about as warm as its own usual or lessZambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessVietnam: about as warm as its own usual or lessVenezuela: too little coverage to readVanuatu: about as warm as its own usual or lessUzbekistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessUruguay: about as warm as its own usual or lessMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuam: about as warm as its own usual or lessPuerto Rico: about as warm as its own usual or lessUnited States: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Kingdom: about as warm as its own usual or lessUnited Arab Emirates: about as warm as its own usual or lessUkraine: about as warm as its own usual or lessUganda: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkmenistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkey: about as warm as its own usual or lessTunisia: about as warm as its own usual or lessTrinidad & Tobago: about as warm as its own usual or lessTonga: about as warm as its own usual or lessTogo: about as warm as its own usual or lessTimor-Leste: about as warm as its own usual or lessTanzania: about as warm as its own usual or lessTajikistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTaiwan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSwitzerland: about as warm as its own usual or lessSweden: about as warm as its own usual or lessEswatini: about as warm as its own usual or lessSuriname: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Sudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSri Lanka: about as warm as its own usual or lessSpain: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Africa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomalia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovakia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovenia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSingapore: about as warm as its own usual or lessSierra Leone: about as warm as its own usual or lessSeychelles: about as warm as its own usual or lessSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: about as warm as its own usual or lessSão Tomé: about as warm as its own usual or lessSamoa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: about as warm as its own usual or lessRwanda: about as warm as its own usual or lessRussia: about as warm as its own usual or lessRomania: about as warm as its own usual or lessPortugal: about as warm as its own usual or lessPoland: about as warm as its own usual or lessPhilippines: about as warm as its own usual or lessPeru: about as warm as its own usual or lessParaguay: about as warm as its own usual or lessPapua New Guinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalau: about as warm as its own usual or lessPakistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessOman: too little coverage to readNorway: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessNigeria: too little coverage to readNiger: about as warm as its own usual or lessNicaragua: about as warm as its own usual or lessNew Zealand: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: about as warm as its own usual or lessNamibia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMozambique: about as warm as its own usual or lessMorocco: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara: about as warm as its own usual or lessMontenegro: about as warm as its own usual or lessMongolia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMoldova: about as warm as its own usual or lessMexico: too little coverage to readMauritius: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritania: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalta: about as warm as its own usual or lessMali: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalaysia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalawi: too little coverage to readMadagascar: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Macedonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLuxembourg: too little coverage to readLithuania: about as warm as its own usual or lessLibya: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiberia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLesotho: about as warm as its own usual or lessLatvia: too little coverage to readLaos: about as warm as its own usual or lessKuwait: about as warm as its own usual or lessKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: about as warm as its own usual or lessKazakhstan: too little coverage to readJordan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJapan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJamaica: about as warm as its own usual or lessIreland: about as warm as its own usual or lessIndia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIceland: about as warm as its own usual or lessHungary: about as warm as its own usual or lessHonduras: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuyana: too little coverage to readGuinea-Bissau: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuatemala: too little coverage to readGrenada: about as warm as its own usual or lessGreece: about as warm as its own usual or lessGhana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGermany: about as warm as its own usual or lessGeorgia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGabon: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: too little coverage to readNew Caledonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFiji: too little coverage to readEstonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessEritrea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEquatorial Guinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEl Salvador: about as warm as its own usual or lessEgypt: about as warm as its own usual or lessEcuador: about as warm as its own usual or lessDominican Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessDominica: about as warm as its own usual or lessDjibouti: about as warm as its own usual or lessGreenland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: about as warm as its own usual or lessN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuba: about as warm as its own usual or lessCroatia: about as warm as its own usual or lessCôte d'Ivoire: about as warm as its own usual or lessCosta Rica: too little coverage to readDR Congo: about as warm as its own usual or lessCongo: about as warm as its own usual or lessComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: about as warm as its own usual or lessChina: about as warm as its own usual or lessHong Kong: about as warm as its own usual or lessChad: about as warm as its own usual or lessCentral African Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessCape Verde: about as warm as its own usual or lessCanada: about as warm as its own usual or lessCameroon: about as warm as its own usual or lessCambodia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMyanmar: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurundi: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurkina Faso: about as warm as its own usual or lessBrunei: about as warm as its own usual or lessBotswana: about as warm as its own usual or lessBosnia and Herzegovina: about as warm as its own usual or lessBolivia: about as warm as its own usual or lessBhutan: about as warm as its own usual or lessBenin: too little coverage to readBelize: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelgium: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelarus: about as warm as its own usual or lessBarbados: about as warm as its own usual or lessBangladesh: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahrain: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahamas: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzerbaijan: too little coverage to readAustria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustralia: about as warm as its own usual or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readAntigua & Barbuda: about as warm as its own usual or lessAngola: about as warm as its own usual or lessAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAlbania: about as warm as its own usual or lessJammu & Kashmir: about as warm as its own usual or lessAksai Chin: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara (Free Zone): about as warm as its own usual or lessAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSiachen Glacier: about as warm as its own usual or lessCrimea: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessVatican City: about as warm as its own usual or lessMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern Mariana Islands: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos Islands: too little coverage to readSt. Helena: too little coverage to readPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBermuda: about as warm as its own usual or lessBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuernsey: about as warm as its own usual or lessSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: about as warm as its own usual or lessNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: about as warm as its own usual or lessMaldives: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: about as warm as its own usual or lessMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: warmth about its own usualThailand: warmth about its own usualSyria: warmth about its own usualSudan: warmth about one and a half times its own usualSaudi Arabia: warmth about its own usualQatar: warmth about its own usualPanama: warmth about its own usualNetherlands: warmth about its own usualLebanon: warmth about its own usualKyrgyzstan: warmth about its own usualKenya: warmth about its own usualItaly: warmth about its own usualIsrael: warmth about its own usualPalestine: warmth about its own usualIraq: warmth about one and a half times its own usualIran: warmth about its own usualIndonesia: warmth about its own usualHaiti: warmth about its own usualFrance: warmth about its own usualEthiopia: warmth about its own usualCzechia: warmth about its own usualChile: warmth about its own usualBulgaria: warmth about its own usualBrazil: warmth about its own usualArmenia: warmth about its own usualArgentina: warmth about its own usualAfghanistan: warmth about one and a half times its own usualPalestine: warmth about its own usualPalestine: warmth about its own usualPalestine: warmth about its own usualCollin County, US -- rights & justice: 18 stories, carried by 18 outletsSheboygan Falls, US -- disasters & accidents: 25 stories, carried by 67 outletsMadoc, Canada -- deaths & injuries, cause not given: 24 stories, carried by 37 outletsJuba, South Sudan -- rights & justice: 15 stories, carried by 13 outletsDarfur, Sudan -- displacement: 28 stories, carried by 30 outletsKyoto, Japan -- health: 12 stories, carried by 11 outletsShimabara, Japan -- rights & justice: 33 stories, carried by 34 outletsOslo, Norway -- rights & justice: 12 stories, carried by 12 outlets
Warmer than its own usual The warmest eventsAbout as warm or lessToo little news

Each country shaded by the warmth in its news — care, help, gratitude — against its own last 30 days. Stronger colour: further above. Dots: the events whose coverage carried the most warmth, even where the event itself began as harm. Warm words, not good outcomes. Click a country or a dot.

Warmest news

● Sudan warmth about one and a half times usual ● Iraq warmth about one and a half times usual ● Afghanistan warmth about one and a half times usual

Warmest events

● Collin County US about three times as warm as the day's news · rights & justice · 18 stories ● Sheboygan Falls US about twice as warm as the day's news · disasters & accidents · 25 stories ● Madoc Canada about twice as warm as the day's news · deaths & injuries, cause not given · 24 stories ● Juba South Sudan about twice as warm as the day's news · rights & justice · 15 stories ● Darfur Sudan about twice as warm as the day's news · displacement · 28 stories

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Conflict & violence32% 17,864 stories · much more than usual (usually 21%) Rights & justice23% 13,004 stories · much less than usual (usually 28%) Health18% 10,088 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents12% 6,835 stories · less than usual (usually 17%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given6% 3,309 stories · about as usual Displacement5% 2,636 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 1,848 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 1,061 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 killed22,183 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Germany and the US Stories reporting people injured11,441 at about twice the usual rate · most about Germany and the US Stories reporting people affected7,427 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests7,317 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees2,591 at about three times the usual rate · most about Germany and Türkiye Stories reporting evacuations1,526 at about twice the usual rate · most about Syria and Germany Stories reporting people displaced588 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions402 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Iraq and the US Stories reporting people falling ill119 at about the usual rate

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 much harsher than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angera little more than usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little more than usual
● Fearabout one and a half times 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 · 19 Oct – 25 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.