← 20 Feb Thursday 21 February 2019 · to 23:59 UTC 22 Feb →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
41,869 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 Dhaka, plane crash in Algeria and violence in Baghdad. Bangladesh's coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's. Over the whole world, the tone was harsher than usual.

Part of lifeRights & justice 37 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostBangladesh 87 in 100 of its 1,519 stories, usually 34
RegionSouth Asia 36 in 100 of its stories, usually 26
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

Bangladesh

1,327 of its 1,519 stories (87%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Dhaka accounted for 1,230 of Bangladesh's 1,327 stories about harm, carried by 1,095 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (777 stories). Plague was named in 67 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Bangladesh over 30 days → its stories → Dhaka stories →
Deaths & injuries, cause not given

Algeria

50 of its 90 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Algiers accounted for 48 of Algeria's 50 stories about harm, carried by 40 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about 5 times the usual rate (47 stories). Plane crash was named in 18 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Algeria over 30 days → its stories → Algiers stories →
Conflict & violence

Iraq

213 of its 305 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Baghdad accounted for 114 of Iraq's 213 stories about harm, carried by 140 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (23 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

Iraq over 30 days → its stories → Baghdad stories →
Protests & strikes

Poland

262 of its 608 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. 96 of Warsaw's 118 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (186 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Poland over 30 days → its stories → Warsaw stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Conflict & violence

South Sudan

114 of its 136 stories (84%) were about people being harmed, usually 60%. Yambio accounted for 89 of South Sudan's 114 stories about harm, carried by 94 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at about 7 times the usual rate (72 stories). Its coverage was about twice as warm as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Slovakia

24 of its 79 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 10%. 15 of Bratislava's 19 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (11 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Pakistan

653 of its 1,495 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 4 times the usual rate (8 stories). Polio was named in 40 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with landslides. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Spain

228 of its 1,318 stories (17%) were about people being harmed, usually 12%. 111 of Barcelona's 117 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (5 stories). Poisoning was named in 15 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Sudan

Khartoum accounted for 66 of Sudan's 101 stories about harm, carried by 59 outlets. 62 of Khartoum's 66 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of refugees ran at about twice the usual rate (9 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Micronesia

46 of its 51 stories (90%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Puluwat accounted for 35 of Micronesia's 46 stories about harm, carried by 41 outlets. Tropical storm was named in 36 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: tropical storm in Guam (40 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); tropical storm in Micronesia (36 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); tsunami in Japan (85 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); hunger in Colombia (11 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); ebola in Ethiopia (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

20 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 19; 19 the day before
22 in 10018 in 10023 Jan30 Jan6 Feb13 Feb21 Feb23 Jan: 18 in 10024 Jan: 18 in 10025 Jan: 19 in 10026 Jan: 20 in 10027 Jan: 21 in 10028 Jan: 20 in 10029 Jan: 21 in 10030 Jan: 20 in 10031 Jan: 19 in 1001 Feb: 18 in 1002 Feb: 21 in 1003 Feb: 20 in 1004 Feb: 20 in 1005 Feb: 19 in 1006 Feb: 19 in 1007 Feb: 19 in 1008 Feb: 18 in 1009 Feb: 20 in 10010 Feb: 19 in 10011 Feb: 18 in 10012 Feb: 18 in 10013 Feb: 18 in 10014 Feb: 19 in 10015 Feb: 20 in 10016 Feb: 22 in 10017 Feb: 21 in 10018 Feb: 19 in 10019 Feb: 19 in 10020 Feb: 19 in 10021 Feb: 20 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 21 Feb. 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 41,869 stories about harm among 206,553 counted on 21 Feb.

Read the day's briefing

Bangladesh stood out: 87% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 34%. 20 in every 100 of the day's 206,553 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. On 21 February 2018, a year earlier, the share was 23 in every 100, against 20 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Micronesia90 in 100 of its 51 stories · usually 20 · mostly disasters & accidents Bangladesh87 in 100 of its 1,519 stories · usually 34 · mostly disasters & accidents Madagascar85 in 100 of its 72 stories · usually 32 · mostly health South Sudan84 in 100 of its 136 stories · usually 60 · mostly conflict & violence Sudan78 in 100 of its 129 stories · usually 73 · mostly rights & justice

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US486 stories about protests or strikes, of its 2210 Dhaka Bangladesh281 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1230 Chicago US267 stories about protests or strikes, of its 3641 Oakland US253 stories about protests or strikes, of its 511 Richmond US146 stories about protests or strikes, of its 184

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 lessYemen: 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 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessIsle 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 lessUganda: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkmenistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkey: 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: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readThailand: about as warm as its own usual or lessTanzania: too little coverage to readTajikistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTaiwan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSyria: 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 readSri Lanka: about as warm as its own usual or lessSpain: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Africa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomalia: too little coverage to readSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovakia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovenia: too little coverage to readSingapore: 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 lessSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: about as warm as its own usual or lessRwanda: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessPapua 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorway: about as warm as its own usual or lessNigeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiger: too little coverage to readNicaragua: 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 readNamibia: too little coverage to readMozambique: about as warm as its own usual or lessMorocco: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara: about as warm as its own usual or lessMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMoldova: too little coverage to readMexico: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritius: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritania: 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 lessMalaysia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalawi: about as warm as its own usual or lessMadagascar: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Macedonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLuxembourg: about as warm as its own usual or lessLithuania: about as warm as its own usual or lessLibya: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessLatvia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLaos: about as warm as its own usual or lessKyrgyzstan: too little coverage to readKuwait: too little coverage to readKosovo: 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 lessItaly: about as warm as its own usual or lessIsrael: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalestine: about as warm as its own usual or lessIreland: about as warm as its own usual or lessIraq: about as warm as its own usual or lessIran: 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: too little coverage to readGuinea: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessGeorgia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGambia: too little coverage to readGabon: too little coverage to readFrance: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: too little coverage to readNew 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 lessEstonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessEritrea: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEl 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 lessDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFaroe Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessDenmark: 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 lessCroatia: about as warm as its own usual or lessCôte d'Ivoire: too little coverage to readCosta Rica: about as warm as its own usual or lessDR Congo: about as warm as its own usual or lessCongo: 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 lessChad: 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 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelize: 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 lessBangladesh: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahrain: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahamas: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzerbaijan: 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 readArgentina: about as warm as its own usual or lessAntigua & Barbuda: about as warm as its own usual or lessAngola: about as warm as its own usual or lessAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAlbania: about as warm as its own usual or lessAfghanistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessAksai Chin: about as warm as its own usual or lessGaza: about as warm as its own usual or lessWest Bank: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara (Free Zone): about as warm as its own usual or lessEast Jerusalem: about as warm as its own usual or lessVatican City: about as warm as its own usual or lessMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern Mariana Islands: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: about as warm as its own usual or lessChagos 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: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuernsey: about as warm as its own usual or lessSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: about as warm as its own usual or lessMonaco: about as warm as its own usual or lessMaldives: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: too little coverage to readNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: about as warm as its own usual or lessGibraltar: about as warm as its own usual or lessMayotte: too little coverage to readVanuatu: warmth about its own usualUkraine: warmth about its own usualSouth Sudan: warmth about one and a half times its own usualSudan: warmth about one and a half times its own usualSierra Leone: warmth about its own usualSaudi Arabia: warmth about its own usualRussia: warmth about its own usualNorth Korea: warmth about its own usualNetherlands: warmth about one and a half times its own usualNepal: warmth about its own usualIndonesia: warmth about one and a half times its own usualEthiopia: warmth about its own usualCuba: warmth about its own usualChile: warmth about one and a half times its own usualCentral African Republic: warmth about one and a half times its own usualBrazil: warmth about its own usualArmenia: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualUkraine: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualYambio, South Sudan -- conflict & violence: 89 stories, carried by 94 outletsBamako, Mali -- conflict & violence: 10 stories, carried by 10 outletsKhartoum, Sudan -- conflict & violence: 66 stories, carried by 59 outletsShanghai, China -- health: 17 stories, carried by 15 outletsGreat Falls, US -- health: 13 stories, carried by 12 outletsAdelaide, Australia -- health: 29 stories, carried by 42 outletsDane County, US -- health: 11 stories, carried by 13 outletsMontreal, Canada -- health: 89 stories, carried by 81 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

● Netherlands warmth about one and a half times usual ● South Sudan warmth about one and a half times usual ● Chile warmth about one and a half times usual ● Indonesia warmth about one and a half times usual ● Sudan warmth about one and a half times usual ● Central African Republic warmth about one and a half times usual

Warmest events

● Yambio South Sudan about three times as warm as the day's news · conflict & violence · 89 stories ● Bamako Mali about twice as warm as the day's news · conflict & violence · 10 stories ● Khartoum Sudan about twice as warm as the day's news · conflict & violence · 66 stories ● Shanghai China about twice as warm as the day's news · health · 17 stories ● Great Falls US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 13 stories

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice37% 15,128 stories · more than usual (usually 32%) Health19% 7,943 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence17% 6,958 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents16% 6,427 stories · less than usual (usually 18%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 1,966 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 1,167 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood3% 1,058 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 553 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 killed11,183 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests5,964 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected3,969 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured2,814 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees600 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions303 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced283 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations202 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Syria and Iraq Stories reporting people falling ill87 at about the usual rate

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.

● Angera little more than usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefabout as 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.