← 16 Aug Saturday 17 August 2019 · to 23:59 UTC 18 Aug →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
21,778 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 news turned to protests in Idlib (Syria), a disaster in Odessa and illness in Dhaka. Syria's coverage was about three times as angry as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were softer than usual.

Part of lifeRights & justice 31 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostUkraine 68 in 100 of its 184 stories, usually 24
RegionMiddle East & North Africa 48 in 100 of its stories, usually 36
Tone of the words Softer than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Protests & strikes

Syria

152 of its 186 stories (82%) were about people being harmed, usually 72%. Idlib accounted for 119 of Syria's 152 stories about harm, carried by 182 outlets. 65 of Idlib's 119 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of abductions ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.

Syria over 30 days → its stories → Idlib stories →
Disasters & accidents

Ukraine

126 of its 184 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Odessa accounted for 101 of Ukraine's 126 stories about harm, carried by 93 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (93 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Ukraine over 30 days → its stories → Odessa stories →
Health

Malaysia

142 of its 458 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (68 stories). Hunger was named in 48 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.

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

Zimbabwe

155 of its 362 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Harare accounted for 104 of Zimbabwe's 155 stories about harm, carried by 125 outlets. 86 of Harare's 104 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (48 stories).

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Palestine

180 of its 355 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. 77 of Kafr Qaddum's 87 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (98 stories).

its stories →
Rights & justice

Germany

127 of its 492 stories (26%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. Reports of arrests ran at about 7 times the usual rate (56 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Rights & justice

New Zealand

137 of its 472 stories (29%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (36 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Indonesia

69 of its 176 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (29 stories). Drownings were named in 24 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

429 of its 546 stories (79%) were about people being harmed, usually 71%. Kabul accounted for 363 of Afghanistan's 429 stories about harm, carried by 485 outlets. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: natural hazards in Puerto Rico (17 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); drownings in Indonesia (24 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hurricane in Panama (10 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); plane crash in Spain (12 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); outbreaks in Israel (63 of its stories, about three times its usual).

24 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 22; 21 the day before
31 in 10019 in 10019 Jul26 Jul2 Aug9 Aug17 Aug19 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 1005 Aug: 24 in 1006 Aug: 22 in 1007 Aug: 23 in 1008 Aug: 22 in 1009 Aug: 22 in 10010 Aug: 26 in 10011 Aug: 26 in 10012 Aug: 22 in 10013 Aug: 21 in 10014 Aug: 20 in 10015 Aug: 21 in 10016 Aug: 21 in 10017 Aug: 24 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 17 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 21,778 stories about harm among 91,255 counted on 17 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

Stories about people being harmed made up 24 in every 100 of the day's 91,255 stories, above the usual 22. On 17 August 2018, a year earlier, the share was 21 in every 100, against 24 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Syria82 in 100 of its 186 stories · usually 72 · mostly conflict & violence Afghanistan79 in 100 of its 546 stories · usually 71 · mostly conflict & violence Ukraine68 in 100 of its 184 stories · usually 24 · mostly disasters & accidents Israel62 in 100 of its 1,124 stories · usually 40 · mostly rights & justice Sudan61 in 100 of its 378 stories · usually 67 · mostly rights & justice

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Portland US738 stories about protests or strikes, of its 767 Washington US253 stories about protests or strikes, of its 806 Khartoum Sudan188 stories about protests or strikes, of its 191 New Delhi India159 stories about protests or strikes, of its 382 Beijing China131 stories about protests or strikes, of its 151

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: feelings about like the world'sVietnam: feelings about like the world'sVenezuela: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: too little coverage to readUzbekistan: too little coverage to readUruguay: too little coverage to readMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sGuam: feelings about like the world'sPuerto Rico: feelings about like the world'sUnited States: feelings about like the world'sSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: feelings about like the world'sIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: too little coverage to readTurkey: feelings about like the world'sTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSouth Africa: feelings about like the world'sSomalia: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: too little coverage to readSlovenia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSierra Leone: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: feelings about like the world'sSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: too little coverage to readSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: too little coverage to readPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNiue: feelings about like the world'sNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: feelings about like the world'sNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: too little coverage to readMauritius: too little coverage to readMauritania: too little coverage to readMali: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: too little coverage to readNorth Macedonia: too little coverage to readLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: too little coverage to readLaos: feelings about like the world'sKyrgyzstan: feelings about like the world'sKuwait: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: feelings about like the world'sKenya: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIndia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: too little coverage to readGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGreece: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: too little coverage to readGabon: feelings about like the world'sFrance: feelings about like the world'sSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: too little coverage to readNew Caledonia: feelings about like the world'sFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: feelings about like the world'sFiji: feelings about like the world'sEthiopia: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: too little coverage to readEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEgypt: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: feelings about like the world'sCzech Republic: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: feelings about like the world'sCuba: feelings about like the world'sCroatia: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: too little coverage to readCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readChile: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCentral African Republic: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: feelings about like the world'sCameroon: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: feelings about like the world'sBurkina Faso: too little coverage to readBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBrazil: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBosnia and Herzegovina: too little coverage to readBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelgium: feelings about like the world'sBelarus: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAzerbaijan: feelings about like the world'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArmenia: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAlbania: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: feelings about like the world'sNorthern Mariana Islands: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: feelings about like the world'sChagos Islands: too little coverage to readSt. Helena: too little coverage to readPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: feelings about like the world'sBermuda: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: feelings about like the world'sCook Islands: feelings about like the world'sAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: feelings about like the world'sMonaco: too little coverage to readMaldives: feelings about like the world'sLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: feelings about like the world'sNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readZimbabwe: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sUK: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sThailand: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSyria: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sSweden: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sSudan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSri Lanka: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sOman: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sNorway: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMozambique: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMexico: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sMalta: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMalaysia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sLebanon: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKazakhstan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sItaly: coverage a little warmer than the world'sIsrael: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIreland: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sIraq: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sHonduras: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sCongo: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sColombia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sHong Kong: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMyanmar: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBolivia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBarbados: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArgentina: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sGibraltar: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world's
AngerGriefFearWarmth Like the world'sToo little news

Each country in the colour of the feeling its news carried most, against the world's news that day. Stronger colour: further above the world. Click a country.

Strongest feelings

● Sweden few stories about twice as fearful as the world's · 24 stories about harm ● Syria about three times as angry as the world's · 152 stories about harm ● Saudi Arabia about twice as angry as the world's · 196 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 429 stories about harm ● Thailand about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 230 stories about harm ● Mexico about twice as angry as the world's · 158 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice31% 6,576 stories · less than usual (usually 34%) Conflict & violence21% 4,498 stories · more than usual (usually 16%) Health20% 4,374 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents16% 3,542 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 1,020 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 635 stories · about as usual Displacement3% 598 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 281 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 killed6,753 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests3,104 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured2,112 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,940 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations260 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees255 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions214 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced116 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Syria and Nigeria Stories reporting people falling ill9 at about a third of the usual rate · most about Mexico and Singapore

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 softer than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angerabout as 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 · 18 Oct – 24 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.