We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
12,371 of its 23,057 stories (54%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. London accounted for 10,261 of the UK's 12,371 stories about harm, carried by 3,057 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (7,532 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about three times its own usual.
961 of its 1,901 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Sewol accounted for 829 of South Korea's 961 stories about harm, carried by 423 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at more than ten times the usual rate (659 stories). Heavy rain was named in 12 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual.
151 of its 275 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Phnom Penh accounted for 126 of Cambodia's 151 stories about harm, carried by 121 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (122 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
185 of its 269 stories (69%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Manama accounted for 149 of Bahrain's 185 stories about harm, carried by 124 outlets. 124 of Manama's 149 stories were about protests or strikes.
460 of its 827 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (72 stories). Poisoning was named in 112 of its stories about harm, about 8 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
509 of its 818 stories (62%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Brussels accounted for 442 of Belgium's 509 stories about harm, carried by 339 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (412 stories).
81 of its 211 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (49 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
101 of its 295 stories (34%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. 84 of Lantau's 88 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (83 stories).
77 of its 253 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. 36 of Bucharest's 57 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (22 stories).
44 of its 83 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Reports of people killed ran at about 5 times the usual rate (23 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
Also named far more than usual: drownings in Libya (59 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); poisoning in Egypt (112 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); bird flu in Austria (13 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); earthquake in Finland (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); respiratory illness in Hungary (12 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 23 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 60,144 stories about harm among 252,378 counted on 23 Mar.
No day had a higher share of stories about people being harmed since 30 January 2017. Stories about people being harmed made up 24 in every 100 of the day's 252,378 stories, above the usual 21. the UK's news was 54% about people being harmed, against a usual 18%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate, most often about the UK and the US. Libya's news mentioned drownings about 4 times as often as usual.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
Countries with at least 50 stories that day.
Stories, not people.
Each country shaded by how much of its news was about people being harmed, against the world's 24 in 100 that day. Stronger colour: further above. A country with few stories is drawn closer to the world's. Click a country.
Stories, not people. Countries with at least 50 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.