← 19 Oct Saturday 20 October 2018 · to 23:59 UTC 21 Oct →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
24,456 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 protests in Sweida (Syria), violence in Kabul and rights and justice in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia's coverage was about three times as fearful as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much harsher than usual.

Reports of refugees ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Mexico and Spain → Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Syria and Afghanistan →
Part of lifeRights & justice 33 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostCyprus 75 in 100 of its 121 stories, usually 25
RegionSouth Asia 42 in 100 of its stories, usually 26
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 →
Protests & strikes

Syria

359 of its 396 stories (91%) were about people being harmed, usually 69%. Sweida accounted for 145 of Syria's 359 stories about harm, carried by 173 outlets. 87 of Sweida's 145 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of abductions ran at about 8 times the usual rate (200 stories). Natural hazards were named in 31 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Syria over 30 days → its stories → Sweida stories →
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

1,080 of its 1,281 stories (84%) were about people being harmed, usually 63%. Kabul accounted for 936 of Afghanistan's 1,080 stories about harm, carried by 706 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (99 stories). Poisoning was named in 21 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

Afghanistan over 30 days → its stories → Kabul stories →
Rights & justice

Ethiopia

96 of its 120 stories (80%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. Addis Ababa accounted for 79 of Ethiopia's 96 stories about harm, carried by 104 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about 8 times the usual rate (80 stories). Its coverage was about three times as fearful as the world's.

Ethiopia over 30 days → its stories → Addis Ababa stories →
Displacement

Cyprus

91 of its 121 stories (75%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of refugees ran at about 8 times the usual rate (86 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Cyprus over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Rights & justice

Saudi Arabia

2,336 of its 3,830 stories (61%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Riyadh accounted for 1,275 of Saudi Arabia's 2,336 stories about harm, carried by 1,110 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (1,883 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Rights & justice

Türkiye

308 of its 577 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Istanbul accounted for 265 of Türkiye's 308 stories about harm, carried by 316 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (179 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Nigeria

341 of its 1,182 stories (29%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (103 stories). Natural hazards were named in 56 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Mexico

763 of its 1,169 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. 293 of Mexico City's 318 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of refugees ran at more than ten times the usual rate (381 stories).

its stories →
Rights & justice

Palestine

394 of its 655 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (175 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

India

1,965 of its 5,540 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Reports of people injured ran at about 9 times the usual rate (789 stories). Drownings were named in 61 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with bridge collapse.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: drownings in Spain (69 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); ebola in Liberia (13 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); heavy rain in Nicaragua (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); natural hazards in Nigeria (56 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); wildfires in Brazil (12 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

22 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 20; 18 the day before
24 in 10017 in 10021 Sep28 Sep5 Oct12 Oct20 Oct21 Sep: 20 in 10022 Sep: 23 in 10023 Sep: 22 in 10024 Sep: 20 in 10025 Sep: 19 in 10026 Sep: 18 in 10027 Sep: 17 in 10028 Sep: 19 in 10029 Sep: 22 in 10030 Sep: 21 in 1001 Oct: 19 in 1002 Oct: 19 in 1003 Oct: 19 in 1004 Oct: 19 in 1005 Oct: 20 in 1006 Oct: 22 in 1007 Oct: 23 in 1008 Oct: 21 in 1009 Oct: 21 in 10010 Oct: 21 in 10011 Oct: 22 in 10012 Oct: 21 in 10013 Oct: 23 in 10014 Oct: 24 in 10015 Oct: 20 in 10016 Oct: 19 in 10017 Oct: 19 in 10018 Oct: 19 in 10019 Oct: 18 in 10020 Oct: 22 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 20 Oct. 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 24,456 stories about harm among 113,184 counted on 20 Oct.

Read the day's briefing

In Spain's news, mentions of drownings ran more than ten times their usual. Stories about people being harmed made up 22 in every 100 of the day's 113,184 stories, above the usual 20. Refugees were reported at about twice the usual rate, most often about Mexico and Spain. In Syria, 91% of the news was about people being harmed, where 69% is usual. On 20 October 2017, a year earlier, the share was 22 in every 100, the same as today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Congo94 in 100 of its 77 stories · usually 75 · mostly health Syria91 in 100 of its 396 stories · usually 69 · mostly conflict & violence Afghanistan84 in 100 of its 1,281 stories · usually 63 · mostly conflict & violence Ethiopia80 in 100 of its 120 stories · usually 39 · mostly rights & justice Cyprus75 in 100 of its 121 stories · usually 25 · mostly displacement

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Mexico City Mexico293 stories about protests or strikes, of its 318 Suchiate Mexico246 stories about protests or strikes, of its 263 Washington US246 stories about protests or strikes, of its 710 Riyadh Saudi Arabia223 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1275 Pocahontas US133 stories about protests or strikes, of its 135

Stories, not people.

Where harm was most of the news

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: near the world's share or lessZambia: near the world's share or lessVietnam: near the world's share or lessVanuatu: near the world's share or lessUzbekistan: near the world's share or lessUruguay: near the world's share or lessMicronesia: near the world's share or lessU.S. Virgin Islands: near the world's share or lessGuam: near the world's share or lessUnited States: near the world's share or lessSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: no storiesFalkland Islands: no storiesCayman Islands: near the world's share or lessIsle of Man: near the world's share or lessUnited Kingdom: near the world's share or lessUnited Arab Emirates: near the world's share or lessUkraine: near the world's share or lessUganda: near the world's share or lessTurkmenistan: near the world's share or lessTunisia: near the world's share or lessTonga: near the world's share or lessTogo: no storiesTimor-Leste: near the world's share or lessThailand: near the world's share or lessTanzania: near the world's share or lessTajikistan: near the world's share or lessTaiwan: near the world's share or lessSwitzerland: near the world's share or lessSweden: near the world's share or lessEswatini: near the world's share or lessSuriname: no storiesSpain: near the world's share or lessSouth Korea: near the world's share or lessSomaliland: no storiesSolomon Islands: no storiesSlovakia: near the world's share or lessSlovenia: near the world's share or lessSingapore: near the world's share or lessSeychelles: near the world's share or lessSerbia: no storiesSenegal: near the world's share or lessSão Tomé: no storiesSamoa: near the world's share or lessSt Vincent: near the world's share or lessSt. Lucia: near the world's share or lessRwanda: near the world's share or lessRussia: near the world's share or lessRomania: near the world's share or lessPortugal: near the world's share or lessPoland: near the world's share or lessPhilippines: near the world's share or lessPeru: near the world's share or lessParaguay: near the world's share or lessPapua New Guinea: near the world's share or lessPalau: no storiesPakistan: near the world's share or lessOman: near the world's share or lessNorway: near the world's share or lessNorth Korea: near the world's share or lessNew Zealand: near the world's share or lessNiue: near the world's share or lessNetherlands: near the world's share or lessCuraçao: no storiesNamibia: near the world's share or lessMorocco: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara: near the world's share or lessMontenegro: near the world's share or lessMongolia: near the world's share or lessMoldova: near the world's share or lessMauritius: near the world's share or lessMauritania: near the world's share or lessMalta: near the world's share or lessMali: near the world's share or lessMalaysia: near the world's share or lessMalawi: near the world's share or lessMadagascar: near the world's share or lessNorth Macedonia: near the world's share or lessLuxembourg: near the world's share or lessLithuania: near the world's share or lessLesotho: near the world's share or lessLebanon: near the world's share or lessLatvia: near the world's share or lessLaos: near the world's share or lessKyrgyzstan: near the world's share or lessKuwait: near the world's share or lessKosovo: no storiesKiribati: near the world's share or lessKenya: near the world's share or lessKazakhstan: near the world's share or lessJordan: near the world's share or lessJapan: near the world's share or lessJamaica: near the world's share or lessItaly: near the world's share or lessIreland: near the world's share or lessIceland: near the world's share or lessHungary: near the world's share or lessHonduras: near the world's share or lessHaiti: near the world's share or lessGuyana: near the world's share or lessGuinea-Bissau: near the world's share or lessGuinea: near the world's share or lessGrenada: near the world's share or lessGreece: near the world's share or lessGhana: near the world's share or lessGermany: near the world's share or lessGeorgia: near the world's share or lessGambia: near the world's share or lessGabon: near the world's share or lessFrance: near the world's share or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: no storiesFrench Polynesia: near the world's share or lessNew Caledonia: near the world's share or lessFrench Southern Territories: no storiesÅland Islands: no storiesFinland: near the world's share or lessFiji: near the world's share or lessEstonia: near the world's share or lessEritrea: near the world's share or lessEquatorial Guinea: near the world's share or lessEgypt: near the world's share or lessDominican Republic: near the world's share or lessDominica: near the world's share or lessDjibouti: near the world's share or lessGreenland: near the world's share or lessFaroe Islands: no storiesDenmark: near the world's share or lessN. Cyprus: no storiesCroatia: near the world's share or lessCosta Rica: near the world's share or lessDR Congo: near the world's share or lessColombia: near the world's share or lessChina: near the world's share or lessHong Kong: near the world's share or lessChile: near the world's share or lessChad: near the world's share or lessCentral African Republic: near the world's share or lessCape Verde: no storiesCanada: near the world's share or lessCambodia: near the world's share or lessBurundi: near the world's share or lessBrunei: near the world's share or lessBrazil: near the world's share or lessBotswana: near the world's share or lessBosnia and Herzegovina: near the world's share or lessBolivia: near the world's share or lessBhutan: near the world's share or lessBenin: near the world's share or lessBelize: near the world's share or lessBelgium: near the world's share or lessBelarus: near the world's share or lessBarbados: near the world's share or lessBahrain: near the world's share or lessBahamas: near the world's share or lessAzerbaijan: near the world's share or lessAustria: near the world's share or lessAustralia: near the world's share or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: no storiesArmenia: near the world's share or lessArgentina: near the world's share or lessAntigua & Barbuda: near the world's share or lessAndorra: no storiesAlgeria: near the world's share or lessAlbania: near the world's share or lessAksai Chin: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara (Free Zone): near the world's share or lessCrimea: near the world's share or lessVatican City: near the world's share or lessMarshall Islands: near the world's share or lessNorthern Mariana Islands: no storiesAmerican Samoa: near the world's share or lessChagos Islands: no storiesSt. Helena: near the world's share or lessPitcairn: near the world's share or lessAnguilla: near the world's share or lessBermuda: near the world's share or lessBritish Virgin Islands: no storiesTurks & Caicos Islands: no storiesMontserrat: no storiesJersey: near the world's share or lessGuernsey: near the world's share or lessSan Marino: no storiesSt Kitts & Nevis: near the world's share or lessCook Islands: no storiesAruba: near the world's share or lessNauru: near the world's share or lessMonaco: near the world's share or lessMaldives: near the world's share or lessLiechtenstein: near the world's share or lessWallis & Futuna: no storiesSt. Martin: near the world's share or lessSt. Barthélemy: no storiesMacao: near the world's share or lessNorfolk Island: no storiesSint Maarten: no storiesChristmas Island: no storiesGibraltar: near the world's share or lessMayotte: no storiesYemen: 64 in 100 of its 84 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Venezuela: 47 in 100 of its 89 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Puerto Rico: 54 in 100 of its 13 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Türkiye: 53 in 100 of its 577 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Trinidad & Tobago: 54 in 100 of its 79 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Syria: 91 in 100 of its 396 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)South Sudan: 79 in 100 of its 14 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Sudan: 40 in 100 of its 57 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Sri Lanka: 29 in 100 of its 327 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)South Africa: 40 in 100 of its 509 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Somalia: 44 in 100 of its 45 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Sierra Leone: 73 in 100 of its 11 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Saudi Arabia: 61 in 100 of its 3,830 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Qatar: 42 in 100 of its 77 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Panama: 59 in 100 of its 102 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Nigeria: 29 in 100 of its 1,182 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Niger: 60 in 100 of its 10 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Nicaragua: 76 in 100 of its 21 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Nepal: 36 in 100 of its 42 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Mozambique: 73 in 100 of its 37 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Mexico: 65 in 100 of its 1,169 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Libya: 43 in 100 of its 28 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Liberia: 65 in 100 of its 26 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Israel: 56 in 100 of its 1,045 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Palestine: 60 in 100 of its 655 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Iraq: 53 in 100 of its 149 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Iran: 40 in 100 of its 328 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Indonesia: 42 in 100 of its 229 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)India: 35 in 100 of its 5,540 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Guatemala: 36 in 100 of its 70 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Ethiopia: 80 in 100 of its 120 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)El Salvador: 60 in 100 of its 15 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Ecuador: 30 in 100 of its 136 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Czechia: 53 in 100 of its 87 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Cyprus: 75 in 100 of its 121 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Cuba: 37 in 100 of its 65 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Côte d’Ivoire: 62 in 100 of its 16 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Congo: 94 in 100 of its 77 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Comoros: 87 in 100 of its 30 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Cameroon: 47 in 100 of its 47 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Myanmar: 42 in 100 of its 19 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Burkina Faso: 86 in 100 of its 7 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Bulgaria: 62 in 100 of its 39 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Bangladesh: 32 in 100 of its 249 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Angola: 42 in 100 of its 31 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Afghanistan: 84 in 100 of its 1,281 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Kashmir: 58 in 100 of its 308 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Palestine: 60 in 100 of its 655 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Palestine: 60 in 100 of its 655 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Kashmir: 58 in 100 of its 308 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Kashmir: 58 in 100 of its 308 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Palestine: 60 in 100 of its 655 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)Kashmir: 58 in 100 of its 308 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 22)
A quarter or more above the world's share Near the world's or lessNo stories

Each country shaded by how much of its news was about people being harmed, against the world's 22 in 100 that day. Stronger colour: further above. A country with few stories is drawn closer to the world's. Click a country.

Most of its news about harm

● Syria 91 in 100 of its 396 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Afghanistan 84 in 100 of its 1,281 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Congo 94 in 100 of its 77 stories · mostly health ● Mexico 65 in 100 of its 1,169 stories · mostly disasters & accidents ● Ethiopia 80 in 100 of its 120 stories · mostly rights & justice ● Saudi Arabia 61 in 100 of its 3,830 stories · mostly rights & justice

Stories, not people. Countries with at least 50 stories.

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice33% 7,933 stories · more than usual (usually 30%) Health18% 4,436 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence17% 4,015 stories · more than usual (usually 14%) Disasters & accidents16% 3,903 stories · less than usual (usually 21%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given7% 1,796 stories · about as usual Shelter & services5% 1,128 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 544 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 346 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 killed7,948 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests4,501 at about twice the usual rate · most about Saudi Arabia and the US Stories reporting people injured2,874 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about India and Afghanistan Stories reporting people affected2,496 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees800 at about twice the usual rate · most about Mexico and Spain Stories reporting abductions574 at about twice the usual rate · most about Syria and Afghanistan Stories reporting people displaced125 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Syria and the US Stories reporting evacuations103 at less than a quarter of the usual rate · most about the US and Syria Stories reporting people falling ill21 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and Australia

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
● Griefa little more than usual
● Fearabout as 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.