We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
3,845 of its 6,385 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Petersburg accounted for 3,197 of Russia's 3,845 stories about harm, carried by 1,652 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (2,674 stories). Avalanche was named in 66 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual, with food poisoning. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
3,632 of its 4,154 stories (87%) were about people being harmed, usually 74%. Idlib accounted for 2,655 of Syria's 3,632 stories about harm, carried by 1,295 outlets. 1,964 of Idlib's 2,655 stories were about protests or strikes. Accidents were named in 14 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual. Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.
565 of its 738 stories (77%) were about people being harmed, usually 55%. Mocoa accounted for 457 of Colombia's 565 stories about harm, carried by 394 outlets. Hepatitis was named in 31 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with cholera, chickenpox and whooping cough. Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.
65 of its 154 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Banjul accounted for 55 of the Gambia's 65 stories about harm, carried by 52 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (29 stories).
306 of its 450 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Caracas accounted for 258 of Venezuela's 306 stories about harm, carried by 191 outlets. 242 of Caracas' 258 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (138 stories).
12 of its 15 stories (80%) were about people being harmed, usually 10%. 10 of Pusti Lisac's 10 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people affected ran at more than ten times the usual rate (10 stories). Wildfires were named in 10 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
279 of its 772 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. 109 of Riyadh's 215 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of refugees ran at about 9 times the usual rate (33 stories). Covid was named in 16 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
60 of its 121 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. Reports of people injured ran at about 7 times the usual rate (6 stories). HIV was named in 26 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.
511 of its 1,576 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (28 stories). Cyclone was named in 88 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual, with storms.
12 of its 18 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. 7 of Guiana's 7 stories were about protests or strikes. Power cuts were named in 10 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
Also named far more than usual: hiv in Botswana (26 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); road crashes in Angola (16 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); cholera in Haiti (19 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); hypothermia in Italy (58 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); train derailment in Jamaica (25 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 4 Apr. 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 53,844 stories about harm among 255,484 counted on 4 Apr.
On the side of help, reports of peace efforts ran at about one and a half times the usual rate. Stories about people being harmed made up 21 in every 100 of the day's 255,484 stories, as usual. Russia's news was 60% about people being harmed, against a usual 22%. For the second day running, the news turned to Russia. Botswana's news mentioned HIV about 5 times as often as usual.
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 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?
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