← 19 Sep Wednesday 20 September 2017 · to 23:59 UTC 21 Sep →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
50,994 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 building collapse in Mexico, drownings in Belgium and protests in Cairo (Egypt). Mexico's coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Language across the world's news ran harsher than usual.

Help and hope: reports of volunteers ran at about one and a half times the usual rate →
Part of lifeDisasters & accidents 29 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostMexico 81 in 100 of its 5,626 stories, usually 45
RegionLatin America & Caribbean 66 in 100 of its stories, usually 37
Tone of the words Harsher than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Disasters & accidents

Mexico

4,571 of its 5,626 stories (81%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. Mexico City accounted for 3,791 of Mexico's 4,571 stories about harm, carried by 2,016 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about 6 times the usual rate (1,602 stories). Building collapse was named in 935 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with volcanic eruption and avalanche. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Mexico over 30 days → its stories → Mexico City stories →
Conflict & violence

Belgium

146 of its 351 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Brussels accounted for 130 of Belgium's 146 stories about harm, carried by 128 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (118 stories). Drownings were named in 56 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

Belgium over 30 days → its stories → Brussels stories →
Protests & strikes

Egypt

323 of its 615 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Cairo accounted for 230 of Egypt's 323 stories about harm, carried by 169 outlets. 170 of Cairo's 230 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people displaced ran at about 7 times the usual rate (25 stories).

Egypt over 30 days → its stories → Cairo stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Disasters & accidents

Puerto Rico

1,541 of its 1,879 stories (82%) were about people being harmed, usually 64%. Reports of refugees ran at more than ten times the usual rate (111 stories). Tornadoes were named in 20 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Congo

64 of its 90 stories (71%) were about people being harmed, usually 54%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (28 stories). Flooding was named in 38 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

North Korea

627 of its 2,056 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of abductions ran at more than ten times the usual rate (297 stories). Poisoning was named in 28 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Deaths & injuries, cause not given

Slovenia

28 of its 81 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 5%. Reports of people killed ran at more than ten times the usual rate (25 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Indonesia

257 of its 619 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (20 stories). Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Greece

150 of its 472 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of arrests ran at about 10 times the usual rate (99 stories). Oil spill was named in 79 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: oil spill in Greece (79 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); flooding in Congo (38 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hurricane in Jamaica (26 of its stories, about three times its usual); hurricane in Iran (140 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); dengue in French Polynesia (12 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

23 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 26; 23 the day before
33 in 10022 in 10022 Aug29 Aug5 Sep12 Sep20 Sep22 Aug: 23 in 10023 Aug: 22 in 10024 Aug: 22 in 10025 Aug: 24 in 10026 Aug: 29 in 10027 Aug: 30 in 10028 Aug: 28 in 10029 Aug: 26 in 10030 Aug: 25 in 10031 Aug: 26 in 1001 Sep: 25 in 1002 Sep: 26 in 1003 Sep: 27 in 1004 Sep: 25 in 1005 Sep: 24 in 1006 Sep: 23 in 1007 Sep: 25 in 1008 Sep: 26 in 1009 Sep: 30 in 10010 Sep: 33 in 10011 Sep: 29 in 10012 Sep: 25 in 10013 Sep: 24 in 10014 Sep: 23 in 10015 Sep: 24 in 10016 Sep: 27 in 10017 Sep: 27 in 10018 Sep: 23 in 10019 Sep: 23 in 10020 Sep: 23 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 20 Sep. 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 50,994 stories about harm among 217,728 counted on 20 Sep.

Read the day's briefing

Reports of volunteers, a sign of help, ran at about one and a half times the usual rate. It was the second day running that the news turned to Mexico. In Mexico, 81% of the news was about people being harmed, where 45% is usual. Stories about people being harmed made up 23 in every 100 of the day's 217,728 stories, below the usual 26.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Puerto Rico82 in 100 of its 1,879 stories · usually 64 · mostly disasters & accidents Mexico81 in 100 of its 5,626 stories · usually 45 · mostly disasters & accidents Dominica71 in 100 of its 156 stories · usually 71 · mostly disasters & accidents Congo71 in 100 of its 90 stories · usually 54 · mostly disasters & accidents Bangladesh69 in 100 of its 979 stories · usually 70 · mostly displacement

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US296 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1767 Madrid Spain288 stories about protests or strikes, of its 355 Cairo Egypt170 stories about protests or strikes, of its 230 Atlanta US139 stories about protests or strikes, of its 205 Barcelona Spain137 stories about protests or strikes, of its 180

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Vanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: 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: feelings about like the world'sCayman Islands: feelings about like the world'sIsle of Man: too little coverage to readTurkmenistan: too little coverage to readTonga: feelings about like the world'sTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Africa: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: too little coverage to readSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: 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'sPortugal: 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'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: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMalta: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKyrgyzstan: feelings about like the world'sKuwait: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sPalestine: feelings about like the world'sIndia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: feelings about like the world'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: feelings about like the world'sGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGreece: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: feelings about like the world'sSt 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'sEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readN. 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: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: feelings about like the world'sBurkina Faso: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelarus: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArgentina: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAlbania: feelings about like the world'sGaza: feelings about like the world'sWest Bank: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readEast Jerusalem: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: feelings about like the world'sMarshall 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: feelings about like the world'sBermuda: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sTurks & Caicos Islands: feelings about like the world'sMontserrat: feelings about like the world'sJersey: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan Marino: feelings about like the world'sSt Kitts & Nevis: feelings about like the world'sCook Islands: feelings about like the world'sAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: feelings about like the world'sMonaco: feelings about like the world'sMaldives: feelings about like the world'sLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: feelings about like the world'sSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: feelings about like the world'sNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readZimbabwe: coverage a little angrier than the world'sZambia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sVietnam: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sVenezuela: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sGuam: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUK: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUganda: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTunisia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTogo: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sTajikistan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sTaiwan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSyria: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSweden: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSudan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSouth Korea: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSomalia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSlovenia: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSierra Leone: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sRwanda: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sQatar: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sPoland: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPhilippines: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMorocco: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMexico: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sMauritania: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMali: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMadagascar: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLesotho: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sLebanon: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKenya: coverage a little warmer than the world'sJordan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sItaly: coverage a little warmer than the world'sIsrael: coverage a little warmer than the world'sIreland: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken 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 angry as the world'sIndonesia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sHaiti: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage a little warmer than the world'sFrance: coverage a little warmer than the world'sFinland: coverage a little warmer than the world'sEthiopia: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sEstonia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sEritrea: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sDominica: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sDenmark: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sCzechia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sDR Congo: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sCongo: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sChina: coverage a little warmer than the world'sHong Kong: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCanada: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCameroon: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sCambodia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBurundi: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sBosnia: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sBelgium: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBahrain: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sAngola: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sGibraltar: 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

● Qatar about twice as fearful as the world's · 99 stories about harm ● Togo about one and a half times as warm as the world's · 83 stories about harm ● Mexico about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 4,571 stories about harm ● North Korea about twice as angry as the world's · 627 stories about harm ● Congo about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 64 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about one and a half times as warm as the world's · 300 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Disasters & accidents29% 14,308 stories · less than usual (usually 31%) Rights & justice23% 11,565 stories · about as usual Health18% 9,244 stories · more than usual (usually 15%) Conflict & violence15% 7,593 stories · less than usual (usually 18%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 2,414 stories · about as usual Shelter & services4% 2,095 stories · about as usual Displacement3% 1,730 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 1,184 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 killed16,526 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected8,431 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests6,104 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured3,130 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting refugees1,508 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions846 at about twice the usual rate · most about North Korea and the US Stories reporting people displaced534 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Syria Stories reporting evacuations507 at less than a quarter of the usual rate · most about the US and Mexico Stories reporting people falling ill93 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Germany

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

● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefabout as 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.