← 3 Aug Sunday 4 August 2019 · to 23:59 UTC 5 Aug →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
26,427 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 Hong Kong Island (Hong Kong), power cuts in Indonesia and people killed in Cambodia. Cambodia's coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Across the world, the tone of the words was much harsher than usual.

Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate, most often about the US and India → Reports of people injured ran at about 6 times the usual rate, most often about the US and Mexico → Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and the UK →
Part of lifeRights & justice 33 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostMexico 66 in 100 of its 532 stories, usually 29
RegionNorth America 44 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

Hong Kong

470 of its 586 stories (80%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Hong Kong Island accounted for 380 of Hong Kong's 470 stories about harm, carried by 400 outlets. 379 of Hong Kong Island's 380 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (373 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

Hong Kong over 30 days → its stories → Hong Kong Island stories →
Disasters & accidents

Indonesia

168 of its 285 stories (59%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Jakarta accounted for 150 of Indonesia's 168 stories about harm, carried by 125 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about 7 times the usual rate (77 stories). Power cuts were named in 90 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

Indonesia over 30 days → its stories → Jakarta stories →
Conflict & violence

Cambodia

77 of its 158 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Reports of people killed ran at about 4 times the usual rate (66 stories). Hunger was named in 61 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Cambodia over 30 days → its stories →
Rights & justice

UK

Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (110 stories). Heavy rain was named in 86 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

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

Russia

333 of its 740 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Moscow accounted for 278 of Russia's 333 stories about harm, carried by 221 outlets. 232 of Moscow's 278 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (229 stories). Landslides were named in 37 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Romania

28 of its 52 stories (54%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. 5 of Bucharest's 6 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (18 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Tanzania

27 of its 54 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people killed ran at about 6 times the usual rate (26 stories). Plane crash was named in 26 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Sudan

Khartoum accounted for 135 of Sudan's 146 stories about harm, carried by 142 outlets. 131 of Khartoum's 135 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (84 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Mexico

350 of its 532 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Ciudad Juarez accounted for 210 of Mexico's 350 stories about harm, carried by 290 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (258 stories).

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Philippines

296 of its 550 stories (54%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Reports of people affected ran at about 10 times the usual rate (178 stories). Heavy rain was named in 148 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with landslides, typhoon and storms.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: heavy rain in Philippines (148 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); earthquake in Japan (88 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); plane crash in Tanzania (26 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); earthquake in South Korea (25 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); drownings in Bangladesh (22 of its stories, about three times its usual).

31 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 21; 25 the day before
31 in 10019 in 1006 Jul13 Jul20 Jul27 Jul4 Aug6 Jul: 21 in 1007 Jul: 23 in 1008 Jul: 20 in 1009 Jul: 20 in 10010 Jul: 20 in 10011 Jul: 21 in 10012 Jul: 21 in 10013 Jul: 24 in 10014 Jul: 27 in 10015 Jul: 23 in 10016 Jul: 21 in 10017 Jul: 22 in 10018 Jul: 22 in 10019 Jul: 21 in 10020 Jul: 21 in 10021 Jul: 21 in 10022 Jul: 21 in 10023 Jul: 20 in 10024 Jul: 19 in 10025 Jul: 19 in 10026 Jul: 19 in 10027 Jul: 22 in 10028 Jul: 23 in 10029 Jul: 22 in 10030 Jul: 21 in 10031 Jul: 20 in 1001 Aug: 20 in 1002 Aug: 21 in 1003 Aug: 25 in 1004 Aug: 31 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 4 Aug. 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 26,427 stories about harm among 85,855 counted on 4 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

No day had a higher share of stories about people being harmed since 10 September 2017. Stories about people being harmed made up 31 in every 100 of the day's 85,855 stories, above the usual 21. People killed were reported at about three times the usual rate, most often about the US and India. In Cambodia's news, mentions of the hunger ran more than ten times their usual. This week the news turned most often to Afghanistan, on 3 of 7 days; help rose on 3 of them.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Rwanda88 in 100 of its 64 stories · usually 61 · mostly health Syria86 in 100 of its 281 stories · usually 71 · mostly conflict & violence Hong Kong80 in 100 of its 586 stories · usually 52 · mostly rights & justice Afghanistan74 in 100 of its 297 stories · usually 68 · mostly conflict & violence Libya72 in 100 of its 50 stories · usually 71 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

El Paso US1267 stories about protests or strikes, of its 5979 Hong Kong Island Hong Kong379 stories about protests or strikes, of its 380 Moscow Russia232 stories about protests or strikes, of its 278 Paris France153 stories about protests or strikes, of its 171 Khartoum Sudan131 stories about protests or strikes, of its 135

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: too little coverage to readMicronesia: about as warm as its own usual or lessU.S. Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readGuam: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessCayman 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 lessTurkmenistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTunisia: about as warm as its own usual or lessTrinidad & Tobago: too little coverage to readTonga: too little coverage to readTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readThailand: too little coverage to readTanzania: 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 lessEswatini: about as warm as its own usual or lessSuriname: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Sudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSri Lanka: about as warm as its own usual or lessSpain: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovenia: too little coverage to readSingapore: about as warm as its own usual or lessSierra Leone: too little coverage to readSeychelles: 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: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRwanda: 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 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 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 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 readNetherlands: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuraçao: 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 readMontenegro: 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: too little coverage to readMauritania: too little coverage to readMali: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalaysia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMadagascar: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Macedonia: too little coverage to readLuxembourg: 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: too little coverage to readLatvia: too little coverage to readLaos: too little coverage to readKyrgyzstan: too little coverage to readKuwait: 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: too little coverage to readJordan: 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 lessIreland: about as warm as its own usual or lessIraq: about as warm as its own usual or lessIran: too little coverage to readIndonesia: too little coverage to readIndia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIceland: about as warm as its own usual or lessHonduras: too little coverage to readHaiti: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuyana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: too little coverage to readGuatemala: 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: too little coverage to readGambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGabon: too little coverage to readSt 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: too little coverage to readEthiopia: 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: too little coverage to readDenmark: about as warm as its own usual or lessCzech Republic: too little coverage to readN. 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: 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 lessChile: about as warm as its own usual or lessChad: about as warm as its own usual or lessCentral African Republic: too little coverage to readCape 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurkina Faso: about as warm as its own usual or lessBulgaria: about as warm as its own usual or lessBrunei: too little coverage to readBrazil: 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: too little coverage to readBenin: 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: too little coverage to readAzerbaijan: too little coverage to readAustria: 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 lessAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: too little coverage to readAndorra: 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 lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readCrimea: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBermuda: 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: 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: too little coverage to readGibraltar: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: warmth about one and a half times its own usualUganda: warmth about its own usualTürkiye: warmth about its own usualSyria: warmth about its own usualSweden: warmth about its own usualSouth Korea: warmth about its own usualSomalia: warmth about its own usualRussia: warmth about its own usualRomania: warmth about twice its own usualPoland: warmth about its own usualPanama: warmth about its own usualMalta: warmth about its own usualMalawi: warmth about its own usualLebanon: warmth about one and a half times its own usualIsrael: warmth about its own usualPalestine: warmth about its own usualHungary: warmth about its own usualFrance: warmth about one and a half times its own usualAustralia: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualPalestine: warmth about its own usualPalestine: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualPalestine: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualGrand Haven, US -- disasters & accidents: 24 stories, carried by 92 outletsBeirut, Lebanon -- rights & justice: 65 stories, carried by 65 outletsPanama City, Panama -- health: 10 stories, carried by 10 outletsBendigo, Australia -- health: 14 stories, carried by 23 outletsCalgary, Canada -- health: 10 stories, carried by 25 outletsBenue, Nigeria -- shelter & services: 13 stories, carried by 12 outletsSussex, UK -- health: 33 stories, carried by 127 outletsPortland, US -- disasters & accidents: 14 stories, carried by 16 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

● Romania warmth about twice usual ● Lebanon warmth about one and a half times usual ● France warmth about one and a half times usual ● Yemen warmth about one and a half times usual

Warmest events

● Grand Haven US about three times as warm as the day's news · disasters & accidents · 24 stories ● Beirut Lebanon about twice as warm as the day's news · rights & justice · 65 stories ● Panama City Panama about twice as warm as the day's news · health · 10 stories ● Bendigo Australia about twice as warm as the day's news · health · 14 stories ● Calgary Canada about twice as warm as the day's news · health · 10 stories

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice33% 8,576 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence28% 7,313 stories · much more than usual (usually 13%) Health13% 3,387 stories · much less than usual (usually 19%) Disasters & accidents12% 3,239 stories · much less than usual (usually 20%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given8% 2,148 stories · more than usual (usually 6%) Displacement3% 726 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 522 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 260 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 killed14,275 at about three times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people injured9,174 at about 6 times the usual rate · most about the US and Mexico Stories reporting arrests4,675 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and Iran Stories reporting people affected2,261 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations438 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting people displaced220 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Palestine and Syria Stories reporting abductions163 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees144 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and Palestine Stories reporting people falling ill8 at about a third of 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 one and a half times usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefabout one and a half times 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.