← 18 Aug Saturday 19 August 2017 · to 23:59 UTC 20 Aug →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
33,239 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 →

The news turned to gas explosion in Spain, deaths in Warsaw and a disaster in Freetown. Sierra Leone's coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much harsher than usual.

Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and Spain →
Part of lifeRights & justice 33 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostFinland 92 in 100 of its 881 stories, usually 25
RegionEurope 39 in 100 of its stories, usually 21
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 →
Conflict & violence

Spain

2,843 of its 4,159 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Barcelona accounted for 2,503 of Spain's 2,843 stories about harm, carried by 1,162 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (1,274 stories). Gas explosion was named in 555 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about three times as fearful as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Spain over 30 days → its stories → Barcelona stories →
Deaths & injuries, cause not given

Poland

166 of its 229 stories (72%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Warsaw accounted for 156 of Poland's 166 stories about harm, carried by 235 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about 6 times the usual rate (154 stories). Its coverage was about twice as warm as the world's.

Poland over 30 days → its stories → Warsaw stories →
Disasters & accidents

Sierra Leone

280 of its 316 stories (89%) were about people being harmed, usually 76%. Freetown accounted for 261 of Sierra Leone's 280 stories about harm, carried by 254 outlets. Malaria was named in 49 of its stories about harm, about 10 times usual. Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Sierra Leone over 30 days → its stories → Freetown stories →
Protests & strikes

US

12,705 of its 42,419 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. 1,542 of Boston's 1,761 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of evacuations ran at about 4 times the usual rate (332 stories). Volcanic eruption was named in 89 of its stories about harm, about three times usual, with snowstorms.

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

Finland

814 of its 881 stories (92%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Helsinki accounted for 380 of Finland's 814 stories about harm, carried by 476 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at more than ten times the usual rate (164 stories). Its coverage was about three times as fearful as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Palestine

476 of its 653 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 42%. Ramallah accounted for 321 of Palestine's 476 stories about harm, carried by 3 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at more than ten times the usual rate (190 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Russia

449 of its 1,021 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 14%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (329 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Germany

439 of its 895 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. 295 of Berlin's 362 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Armenia

46 of its 92 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (34 stories). Wildfires were named in 34 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual.

its stories →
Rights & justice

Algeria

51 of its 68 stories (75%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Algiers accounted for 49 of Algeria's 51 stories about harm, carried by 49 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: landslides in Congo (35 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); wildfires in Armenia (34 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); flooding in Brunei (26 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); tsunami in Fiji (33 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); train derailment in India (474 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

28 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 23; 27 the day before
29 in 10020 in 10021 Jul28 Jul4 Aug11 Aug19 Aug21 Jul: 22 in 10022 Jul: 24 in 10023 Jul: 25 in 10024 Jul: 23 in 10025 Jul: 21 in 10026 Jul: 21 in 10027 Jul: 20 in 10028 Jul: 21 in 10029 Jul: 22 in 10030 Jul: 24 in 10031 Jul: 21 in 1001 Aug: 20 in 1002 Aug: 21 in 1003 Aug: 21 in 1004 Aug: 21 in 1005 Aug: 22 in 1006 Aug: 24 in 1007 Aug: 21 in 1008 Aug: 21 in 1009 Aug: 21 in 10010 Aug: 20 in 10011 Aug: 20 in 10012 Aug: 25 in 10013 Aug: 29 in 10014 Aug: 26 in 10015 Aug: 24 in 10016 Aug: 24 in 10017 Aug: 25 in 10018 Aug: 27 in 10019 Aug: 28 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 19 Aug. 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 33,239 stories about harm among 117,517 counted on 19 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

28 in every 100 of the day's 117,517 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 23. In Congo's news, mentions of landslides ran more than ten times their usual. the news turned to Spain for the third day running. People injured were reported at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and Spain.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Finland92 in 100 of its 881 stories · usually 25 · mostly conflict & violence Sierra Leone89 in 100 of its 316 stories · usually 76 · mostly disasters & accidents Mali81 in 100 of its 94 stories · usually 67 · mostly conflict & violence Algeria75 in 100 of its 68 stories · usually 40 · mostly rights & justice Lebanon75 in 100 of its 412 stories · usually 54 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Boston US1542 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1761 Charlottesville US1093 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1608 Barcelona Spain549 stories about protests or strikes, of its 2503 Washington US497 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1369 Berlin Germany295 stories about protests or strikes, of its 362

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: feelings about like the world'sZambia: feelings about like the world'sVenezuela: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: feelings about like the world'sU.S. Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sGuam: feelings about like the world'sPuerto Rico: feelings about like the world'sUnited States: feelings about like the world'sSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: too little coverage to readIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sUkraine: feelings about like the world'sUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sThailand: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSouth Africa: feelings about like the world'sSomalia: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSlovenia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: feelings about like the world'sSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: feelings about like the world'sSaudi Arabia: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: feelings about like the world'sNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMozambique: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: too little coverage to readMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalta: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: too little coverage to readLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLibya: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKyrgyzstan: too little coverage to readKuwait: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sIsrael: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: feelings about like the world'sHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: too little coverage to readSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: feelings about like the world'sNew Caledonia: too little coverage to readFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFiji: feelings about like the world'sEthiopia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readCzech Republic: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: feelings about like the world'sCuba: feelings about like the world'sCroatia: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: too little coverage to readCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: feelings about like the world'sChina: feelings about like the world'sHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCambodia: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurkina Faso: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBosnia and Herzegovina: feelings about like the world'sBolivia: too little coverage to readBhutan: too little coverage to readBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelgium: feelings about like the world'sBelarus: too little coverage to readBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBangladesh: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAzerbaijan: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArmenia: feelings about like the world'sArgentina: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: feelings about like the world'sAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlbania: feelings about like the world'sAksai Chin: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readCrimea: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: feelings about like the world'sNorthern 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: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: feelings about like the world'sNauru: too little coverage to readMaldives: feelings about like the world'sLiechtenstein: feelings about like the world'sWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: too little coverage to readNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sVietnam: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTogo: coverage a little warmer than the world'sTanzania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSweden: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSudan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSpain: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sSierra Leone: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sRwanda: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sRussia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sQatar: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPortugal: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPoland: coverage about twice as warm as the world'sPhilippines: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sPakistan: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMorocco: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sMexico: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMali: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sLiberia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sLebanon: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sKiribati: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKenya: coverage a little angrier than the world'sItaly: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sIndia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sHungary: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGreece: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sFrance: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sFinland: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sEstonia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEgypt: coverage a little warmer than the world'sDenmark: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sCongo: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sCanada: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCameroon: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBurundi: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBrunei: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sAustria: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAustralia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAlgeria: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMonaco: coverage a little more fearful than the world's
AngerGriefFearWarmth Like the world'sToo little news

Each country in the colour of the feeling its news carried most, against the world's news that day. Stronger colour: further above the world. Click a country.

Strongest feelings

● Finland about three times as fearful as the world's · 814 stories about harm ● Poland about twice as warm as the world's · 166 stories about harm ● Spain about three times as fearful as the world's · 2,843 stories about harm ● Sierra Leone about three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 280 stories about harm ● Algeria about one and a half times as warm as the world's · 51 stories about harm ● Germany about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 439 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice33% 10,991 stories · more than usual (usually 30%) Conflict & violence29% 9,489 stories · much more than usual (usually 20%) Health13% 4,403 stories · much less than usual (usually 19%) Disasters & accidents13% 4,320 stories · less than usual (usually 17%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given6% 1,902 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 723 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 706 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 321 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 killed12,473 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Spain Stories reporting people injured7,270 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and Spain Stories reporting arrests5,860 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Spain Stories reporting people affected3,651 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees691 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Palestine and Finland Stories reporting evacuations570 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting abductions220 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Lebanon Stories reporting people displaced165 at about half the usual rate · most about Yemen and Nigeria Stories reporting people falling ill19 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and India

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.

● Angerabout one and a half times usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little more than usual
● Feara little more than 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 · 18 Oct – 24 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.