← 22 Sep Saturday 23 September 2017 · to 23:59 UTC 24 Sep →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
28,410 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 day's news pointed at a disaster in Mexico City, protests in Hebron (Palestine) and rights and justice in Cairo. Mexico's coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much harsher than usual.

Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about one and a half times the usual rate →
Part of lifeDisasters & accidents 28 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostIsrael 60 in 100 of its 780 stories, usually 34
RegionLatin America & Caribbean 62 in 100 of its stories, usually 43
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 →
Disasters & accidents

Mexico

1,932 of its 2,627 stories (74%) were about people being harmed, usually 55%. Mexico City accounted for 1,626 of Mexico's 1,932 stories about harm, carried by 1,174 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (1,144 stories). Gas explosion was named in 31 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

Mexico over 30 days → its stories → Mexico City stories →
Protests & strikes

Palestine

250 of its 438 stories (57%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Hebron accounted for 148 of Palestine's 250 stories about harm, carried by 4 outlets. 117 of Hebron's 148 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of refugees ran at about 6 times the usual rate (101 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

Palestine over 30 days → its stories → Hebron stories →
Rights & justice

Egypt

175 of its 330 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Cairo accounted for 134 of Egypt's 175 stories about harm, carried by 122 outlets. HIV was named in 114 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Egypt over 30 days → its stories → Cairo stories →
Conflict & violence

North Korea

1,080 of its 2,548 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Landslides were named in 119 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

North Korea over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Protests & strikes

Israel

471 of its 780 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Jerusalem accounted for 247 of Israel's 471 stories about harm, carried by 18 outlets. 162 of Jerusalem's 247 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 7 times the usual rate (80 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Russia

405 of its 1,307 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (56 stories). Cholera was named in 95 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Cameroon

20 of its 39 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. 8 of Buea's 9 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (13 stories).

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Indonesia

137 of its 367 stories (37%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 8 times the usual rate (27 stories). Volcanic eruption was named in 97 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Sudan

32 of its 44 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 61%. 12 of Darfur's 22 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (16 stories).

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Togo

16 of its 22 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 56%. 11 of Bafilo's 11 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (14 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: volcanic eruption in Indonesia (97 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); cholera in Russia (95 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); landslides in South Korea (38 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); drownings in Puerto Rico (160 of its stories, about 9 times its usual); accidents in China (41 of its stories, about 7 times its usual).

24 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 26; 22 the day before
33 in 10022 in 10025 Aug1 Sep8 Sep15 Sep23 Sep25 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 10021 Sep: 23 in 10022 Sep: 22 in 10023 Sep: 24 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 23 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 28,410 stories about harm among 119,246 counted on 23 Sep.

Read the day's briefing

The news turned to Mexico for the fifth day running. 24 in every 100 of the day's 119,246 news stories were about people being harmed, below the usual 26. On the side of help, reports of people freed or reunited ran at about one and a half times the usual rate. A year earlier, on 23 September 2016, 21 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 24 today. Mexico's news was 74% about people being harmed, against a usual 55%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

South Sudan90 in 100 of its 52 stories · usually 70 · mostly displacement Myanmar83 in 100 of its 90 stories · usually 70 · mostly conflict & violence Puerto Rico81 in 100 of its 1,338 stories · usually 76 · mostly disasters & accidents Syria79 in 100 of its 713 stories · usually 74 · mostly conflict & violence Dominica76 in 100 of its 105 stories · usually 76 · mostly disasters & accidents

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Barcelona Spain187 stories about protests or strikes, of its 204 Berkeley US184 stories about protests or strikes, of its 290 Jerusalem Israel162 stories about protests or strikes, of its 247 Washington US120 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1214 Chesterfield Mall US118 stories about protests or strikes, of its 121

Stories, not people.

Where the news was warmest

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: about as warm as its own usual or lessZambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessVietnam: about as warm as its own usual or lessVenezuela: about as warm as its own usual or lessVanuatu: about as warm as its own usual or lessUzbekistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessUruguay: about as warm as its own usual or lessMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuam: about as warm as its own usual or lessPuerto Rico: about as warm as its own usual or lessUnited States: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth 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 Kingdom: about as warm as its own usual or lessUnited Arab Emirates: about as warm as its own usual or lessUkraine: about as warm as its own usual or lessUganda: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkmenistan: too little coverage to readTurkey: about as warm as its own usual or lessTunisia: about as warm as its own usual or lessTrinidad & Tobago: about as warm as its own usual or lessTonga: about as warm as its own usual or lessTogo: about as warm as its own usual or lessTimor-Leste: about as warm as its own usual or lessThailand: about as warm as its own usual or lessTanzania: about as warm as its own usual or lessTajikistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTaiwan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSwitzerland: about as warm as its own usual or lessSweden: about as warm as its own usual or lessEswatini: about as warm as its own usual or lessSuriname: too little coverage to readSudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSri Lanka: about as warm as its own usual or lessSpain: too little coverage to readSouth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Africa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovakia: too little coverage to readSlovenia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSingapore: about as warm as its own usual or lessSierra Leone: about as warm as its own usual or lessSeychelles: too little coverage to readSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: about as warm as its own usual or lessSaudi Arabia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Vincent: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt. Lucia: about as warm as its own usual or lessRwanda: about as warm as its own usual or lessRussia: about as warm as its own usual or lessRomania: about as warm as its own usual or lessQatar: about as warm as its own usual or lessPortugal: about as warm as its own usual or lessPoland: about as warm as its own usual or lessPhilippines: about as warm as its own usual or lessPeru: about as warm as its own usual or lessParaguay: too little coverage to readPapua New Guinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessPanama: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalau: too little coverage to readPakistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessOman: too little coverage to readNorway: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessNigeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiger: about as warm as its own usual or lessNicaragua: about as warm as its own usual or lessNew Zealand: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: about as warm as its own usual or lessNamibia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMozambique: about as warm as its own usual or lessMorocco: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMongolia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMoldova: too little coverage to readMauritius: too little coverage to readMauritania: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalta: about as warm as its own usual or lessMali: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalawi: about as warm as its own usual or lessMadagascar: too little coverage to readNorth Macedonia: too little coverage to readLuxembourg: about as warm as its own usual or lessLithuania: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiberia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLesotho: about as warm as its own usual or lessLebanon: too little coverage to readLatvia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLaos: about as warm as its own usual or lessKyrgyzstan: about as warm as its own usual or lessKuwait: about as warm as its own usual or lessKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: about as warm as its own usual or lessKenya: about as warm as its own usual or lessKazakhstan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJordan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJapan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJamaica: about as warm as its own usual or lessIsrael: about as warm as its own usual or lessIreland: about as warm as its own usual or lessIran: about as warm as its own usual or lessIndonesia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIndia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIceland: about as warm as its own usual or lessHungary: about as warm as its own usual or lessHonduras: about as warm as its own usual or lessHaiti: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuyana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuinea-Bissau: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuatemala: about as warm as its own usual or lessGrenada: about as warm as its own usual or lessGreece: about as warm as its own usual or lessGhana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGermany: too little coverage to readGeorgia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGabon: too little coverage to readFrance: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: about as warm as its own usual or lessNew Caledonia: too little coverage to readFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFiji: about as warm as its own usual or lessEthiopia: about as warm as its own usual or lessEstonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessEritrea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: about as warm as its own usual or lessEgypt: about as warm as its own usual or lessEcuador: about as warm as its own usual or lessDominican Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessDjibouti: about as warm as its own usual or lessGreenland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: about as warm as its own usual or lessCzech Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuba: about as warm as its own usual or lessCroatia: too little coverage to readCôte d'Ivoire: about as warm as its own usual or lessCosta Rica: about as warm as its own usual or lessDR Congo: about as warm as its own usual or lessComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: about as warm as its own usual or lessChina: about as warm as its own usual or lessHong Kong: about as warm as its own usual or lessChile: about as warm as its own usual or lessChad: about as warm as its own usual or lessCentral African Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: about as warm as its own usual or lessCameroon: about as warm as its own usual or lessCambodia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMyanmar: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurundi: too little coverage to readBurkina Faso: about as warm as its own usual or lessBulgaria: about as warm as its own usual or lessBrunei: about as warm as its own usual or lessBrazil: about as warm as its own usual or lessBotswana: about as warm as its own usual or lessBosnia and Herzegovina: about as warm as its own usual or lessBolivia: about as warm as its own usual or lessBhutan: about as warm as its own usual or lessBenin: too little coverage to readBelize: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelgium: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelarus: about as warm as its own usual or lessBarbados: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahamas: too little coverage to readAzerbaijan: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustralia: about as warm as its own usual or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArmenia: about as warm as its own usual or lessArgentina: about as warm as its own usual or lessAngola: about as warm as its own usual or lessAndorra: about as warm as its own usual or lessAlgeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAlbania: about as warm as its own usual or lessJammu & Kashmir: about as warm as its own usual or lessAksai Chin: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSiachen Glacier: about as warm as its own usual or lessCrimea: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessBermuda: about as warm as its own usual or lessBritish Virgin Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: too little coverage to readMaldives: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiechtenstein: about as warm as its own usual or lessWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt. 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: warmth about its own usualSyria: warmth about its own usualSouth Sudan: warmth about one and a half times its own usualSomalia: warmth about its own usualNetherlands: warmth about its own usualMontenegro: warmth about one and a half times its own usualMexico: warmth about its own usualMalaysia: warmth about its own usualLibya: warmth about its own usualItaly: warmth about one and a half times its own usualPalestine: warmth about one and a half times its own usualIraq: warmth about one and a half times its own usualDominica: warmth about its own usualCongo: warmth about one and a half times its own usualBangladesh: warmth about its own usualBahrain: warmth about its own usualAntigua & Barbuda: warmth about its own usualAfghanistan: warmth about its own usualPalestine: warmth about one and a half times its own usualPalestine: warmth about one and a half times its own usualPalestine: warmth about one and a half times its own usualWolfeboro, US -- health: 20 stories, carried by 20 outletsBrighton, UK -- shelter & services: 23 stories, carried by 138 outletsArkansas, US -- rights & justice: 11 stories, carried by 12 outletsYorkshire, UK -- health: 12 stories, carried by 10 outletsWellington, New Zealand -- rights & justice: 25 stories, carried by 12 outletsMelbourne, Australia -- health: 66 stories, carried by 126 outletsLahore, Pakistan -- conflict & violence: 47 stories, carried by 33 outletsRiyadh, Saudi Arabia -- conflict & violence: 16 stories, carried by 12 outlets
Warmer than its own usual The warmest eventsAbout as warm or lessToo little news

Each country shaded by the warmth in its news — care, help, gratitude — against its own last 30 days. Stronger colour: further above. Dots: the events whose coverage carried the most warmth, even where the event itself began as harm. Warm words, not good outcomes. Click a country or a dot.

Warmest news

● Palestine warmth about one and a half times usual ● South Sudan warmth about one and a half times usual ● Italy warmth about one and a half times usual ● Montenegro warmth about one and a half times usual ● Congo warmth about one and a half times usual ● Iraq warmth about one and a half times usual

Warmest events

● Wolfeboro US about twice as warm as the day's news · health · 20 stories ● Brighton UK about twice as warm as the day's news · shelter & services · 23 stories ● Arkansas US about twice as warm as the day's news · rights & justice · 11 stories ● Yorkshire UK about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 12 stories ● Wellington New Zealand about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · rights & justice · 25 stories

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Disasters & accidents28% 7,724 stories · less than usual (usually 32%) Rights & justice25% 7,002 stories · more than usual (usually 22%) Conflict & violence18% 5,077 stories · about as usual Health17% 4,702 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 1,147 stories · about as usual Shelter & services4% 1,043 stories · about as usual Displacement3% 913 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 322 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 killed8,659 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected5,305 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests2,913 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,547 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting refugees944 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Bangladesh and Syria Stories reporting evacuations833 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Puerto Rico and the US Stories reporting people displaced484 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions333 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill16 at about a third of the usual rate · most about the US and Mexico

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 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 · 19 Oct – 25 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.