We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
264 of its 563 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Tehran accounted for 199 of Iran's 264 stories about harm, carried by 169 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (47 stories). Earthquake was named in 164 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
2,155 of its 6,865 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (1,172 stories). Hypothermia was named in 19 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
290 of its 423 stories (69%) were about people being harmed, usually 58%. 47 of Baghdad's 84 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of refugees ran at about three times the usual rate (18 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
Riyadh accounted for 204 of Saudi Arabia's 236 stories about harm, carried by 196 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (29 stories). Cholera was named in 83 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
69 of its 153 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. 4 of Bogota's 8 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (21 stories). Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
510 of its 1,207 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (243 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
95 of its 119 stories (80%) were about people being harmed, usually 59%. Yangon accounted for 67 of Myanmar's 95 stories about harm, carried by 75 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (58 stories).
832 of its 1,850 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Reports of people affected ran at about 5 times the usual rate (394 stories). Tropical storm was named in 251 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with power cuts.
154 of its 334 stories (46%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Beirut accounted for 119 of Lebanon's 154 stories about harm, carried by 43 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at more than ten times the usual rate (79 stories).
305 of its 471 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 57%. Kabul accounted for 233 of Afghanistan's 305 stories about harm, carried by 264 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
Also named far more than usual: food poisoning in France (138 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); hurricane in Cuba (34 of its stories, about three times its usual); tropical storm in Philippines (251 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); tuberculosis in Tanzania (16 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); cyclone in Fiji (13 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 21 Dec. 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 40,525 stories about harm among 202,155 counted on 21 Dec.
Reports of people falling ill ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about France and the US. Stories about people being harmed made up 20 in every 100 of the day's 202,155 stories, as usual. It was the second day running that the news turned to Iran. In Iran's news, mentions of the earthquake ran about three times their usual. Iran stood out: 47% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 34%.
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 20 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 about as 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.