We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
852 of its 1,775 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Paris accounted for 699 of France's 852 stories about harm, carried by 514 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (689 stories). Extreme cold was named in 63 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with volcanic eruption and flu. Grief in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
106 of its 187 stories (57%) were about people being harmed, usually 14%. Porto accounted for 90 of Portugal's 106 stories about harm, carried by 86 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at more than ten times the usual rate (101 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
144 of its 248 stories (58%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. 42 of Pulwama's 79 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (54 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
242 of its 351 stories (69%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. Volcanic eruption was named in 159 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
70 of its 83 stories (84%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. Kigali accounted for 49 of Rwanda's 70 stories about harm, carried by 49 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (59 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
61 of its 68 stories (90%) were about people being harmed, usually 64%. Managua accounted for 54 of Nicaragua's 61 stories about harm, carried by 41 outlets. 33 of Managua's 54 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (25 stories).
162 of its 470 stories (34%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. 46 of Johannesburg's 65 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 6 times the usual rate (19 stories). Flooding was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual.
117 of its 529 stories (22%) were about people being harmed, usually 14%. 40 of Barcelona's 43 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (50 stories). Illness was named in 36 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.
94 of its 202 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (86 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
80 of its 224 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 13%. 70 of Budapest's 71 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (49 stories).
Also named far more than usual: illness in Spain (36 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); cyclone in Australia (106 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); tsunami in Vanuatu (12 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); heavy rain in UK (112 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); illness in Malaysia (10 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 16 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 17,805 stories about harm among 94,481 counted on 16 Dec.
In Indonesia's news, mentions of volcanic eruption ran more than ten times their usual. Stories about people being harmed made up 19 in every 100 of the day's 94,481 stories, as usual. It was the third day running that the news turned to France. On 16 December 2017, a year earlier, the share was 21 in every 100, against 19 today. France stood out: 48% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 33%. This week the news turned most often to France, on 5 of 7 days.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
Countries with at least 50 stories that day.
Stories, not people.
The day's biggest events: attacks, accidents and disasters, people displaced, protests, outbreaks. Bigger dot: more stories. Ranked by the share of the day's outlets that reported it and how clearly it was about one thing, the same way for every place and year; the news data does not say who attacked whom, so both sides of a war appear where the news put them. Click a dot for its 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 much harsher than 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?
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