We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
2,034 of its 3,034 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Farindola accounted for 1,333 of Italy's 2,034 stories about harm, carried by 790 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about 7 times the usual rate (1,554 stories). Earthquake was named in 1,343 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with hypothermia and storms. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
262 of its 313 stories (84%) were about people being harmed, usually 57%. Sirte accounted for 165 of Libya's 262 stories about harm, carried by 146 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (18 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
145 of its 199 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Yangon accounted for 99 of Myanmar's 145 stories about harm, carried by 84 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (33 stories).
Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (83 stories). Flooding was named in 30 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
601 of its 912 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Tehran accounted for 559 of Iran's 601 stories about harm, carried by 529 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (71 stories). Building collapse was named in 276 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
117 of its 269 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Vienna accounted for 108 of Austria's 117 stories about harm, carried by 95 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (23 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.
38 of its 97 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (20 stories). Volcanic eruption was named in 17 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
375 of its 1,647 stories (23%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. Reports of people killed ran at about 4 times the usual rate (266 stories). Malaria was named in 27 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with tuberculosis. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.
144 of its 394 stories (37%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (61 stories). Road crashes were named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 10 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
181 of its 212 stories (85%) were about people being harmed, usually 61%. Puntland accounted for 133 of Somalia's 181 stories about harm, carried by 161 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.
Also named far more than usual: flooding in Thailand (143 of its stories, about three times its usual); building collapse in Iran (276 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); plane crash in Brazil (124 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hunger in Haiti (38 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); tropical storm in Chile (34 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 20 Jan. 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 53,025 stories about harm among 264,930 counted on 20 Jan.
The news turned to Italy for the third day running. 20 in every 100 of the day's 264,930 news stories were about people being harmed, below the usual 22. In Italy, 67% of the news was about people being harmed, where 30% is usual. Italy's news mentioned the earthquake about 4 times as often as usual. On 21 January 2016, a year earlier, the share was 20 in every 100, the same as today.
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 softer 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.